Trials have Tycoon poised for All Aged Stakes assault
Fresh from plundering two Group One races on Queen Elizabeth Stakes day, Ciaron Maher will be looking to keep his winning momentum rolling into the final major of the Sydney autumn carnival.
Maher will saddle up Southport Tycoon in the $1.5 million All Aged Stakes (1400m) at Randwick on Saturday, seven days after producing Circle Of Fire to win the Sydney Cup (3200m) and Pride Of Jenni to score a stunning victory in the Queen Elizabeth Stakes.
Southport Tycoon was slated to line up in the Doncaster Mile (1600m) two weeks ago but drew an outside gate and was scratched, Maher opting to instead re-route towards Saturday’s feature.
“He was ready to go a couple of weeks ago, that was a target for him and we scratched, but he’s had a trial and he’s in great order,” Maher said.
“(His) form is huge and the horse is in a great spot.”
Southport Tycoon hasn’t raced since claiming to scalps of Veight and Riff Rocket in the Australian Guineas (1600m) at Flemington on March 2.
However, he has been kept up to the mark with two Sydney trials, most recently at Warwick Farm last week when ridden by his Guineas-winning jockey Jamie Kah, who sticks with him this weekend.
Maher says those hitouts have Southport Tycoon spot-on and he has no qualms over the three-year-old going into Saturday’s race with six weeks between runs.
“Not really. Jamie couldn’t have been more complimentary the other day,” he said.
Maher has been enjoying a heady run of form at all levels, producing 11 winners from his past 50 starters leading into Wednesday’s midweek meetings.
He had 14 runners over the two days of The Championships for a trio of Group victories – two with Circle of Fire and one with Pride Of Jenni – along with two feature race placings courtesy of Erno’s Cube (Percy Sykes Stakes) and Semana (Queen Of The Turf Stakes).
If Southport Tycoon can overcome the older horses on Saturday, he will become the third three-year-old to win the All Aged Stakes in the past seven years after Trapeze Artist (2018) and Giga Kick last year.
More Racing News
Bella Nipotina beats I Wish I Win in the Doomben 10,000
Ciaron Maher has been left to marvel at the tenacity of bonny mare Bella Nipotina, who has overcome a busy travel schedule to upset I Wish I Win in the $1.5 million Doomben 10,000. Kicking off her preparation in Melbourne, Bella Nipotina was narrowly edged out by Chain Of Lightning in the T J...
Lloyd keeps his cool as Cindy collects Dark Jewel Classic
A composed ride from Zac Lloyd has helped Fall For Cindy post an invaluable Group Three win, the star apprentice keeping his cool despite having to throw the script out the window shortly after the start. Lloyd had hoped to settle the John O’Shea-trained mare in the first half of the field and...
The Map lands a Melbourne Cup berth
Six months of planning has paid off with The Map earning a ‘Golden Ticket’ into the Melbourne Cup. The Listed Andrew Ramsden Stakes (2800m) at Flemington on Saturday grants the winner a ballot exemption into the Group 1 Melbourne Cup (3200m) in November. Trainers Dan Clarken and Oopy Macgillivray planned their assault on Saturday’s...
Opal Ridge signals Queensland carnival intentions in Ortensia Stakes
A relieved Luke Pepper will press on to the Queensland winter carnival with renewed confidence after an underdone Opal Ridge maintained her perfect home track record with a classy victory in the Ortensia Stakes at Scone. Pepper admitted to some pre-race anxiety given Opal Ridge hadn’t raced since November, but he banked on...
Draw favours Who Dares in The Straight Six
Who Dares has finally lived up to the lofty expectations placed on him winning a Stakes race at Flemington. The Listed Straight Six (1200m) on Saturday fell the way of the heavily supported gelding, prepared at Mornington by Pat Carey and Harris Walker. Sent out the $3.30 favourite under Patrick Moloney, Who Dares scored...
Joyful Fortune returns for The Straight Six contest
Former Hong Kong galloper Joyful Fortune is set to renew acquaintances with the Flemington straight in his first run for the Ciaron Maher stable. Joyful Fortune was unbeaten in two starts on the Flemington straight when prepared by Sydney conditioner Mark Newnham. With Newnham now based in Hong Kong, Joyful Fortune will have his...
‘Cheeky’ Attractable ready to roll in the Scone Cup
Attractable has been keeping trainer Sara Ryan on her toes in the lead-up to the Scone Cup and when he is causing mischief on the training track, it usually equates to a bold race day performance. “He’s very much a confidence horse. He thrives off being confident and happy and you know when...
Shall Samuel and Twain meet in the Melbourne Cup?
To breed one Melbourne Cup runner is an achievement, but to have two in the same race from the one family is something not many can boast. But that’s the dream Gail Temperton and Stan Alexander are hoping to realise this year and Samuel Langhorne can take a giant step towards making...
Bool battler chasing a Melbourne Cup dream
The self-proclaimed little bogan from the Bool with the bargain battler $5000 horse is chasing the dream of a Melbourne Cup start at Flemington. Patrick Ryan Jnr and his stayer Ferago head to the Listed Andrew Ramsden (2800m) in search of a ballot exemption into the Group 1 Melbourne Cup (3200m) at Flemington...
Local mare to launch carnival mission in Ortensia Stakes
Luke Pepper believes the best is still ahead for dual stakes winner Opal Ridge, who will be chasing her second feature race win at Scone in as many years when she resumes in the Ortensia Stakes. The talented mare was triumphant in the Luskin Star Stakes (1300m) on the corresponding program 12...