Ciaron Maher and David Eustace to rely on mares at Coast
They didn’t get the Royal Ascot result they’d hoped for with Coolangatta, but Ciaron Maher and David Eustace still have some feature race cards to play before the end of the season.
The training duo will have at least two stakes runners at the Sunshine Coast on Saturday with enigmatic mare Secret Glamour in the Listed Caloundra Cup (2400m) and Chassis in the Listed Glasshouse Handicap (1400m).
Blaze A Trail is also an acceptor for the sprint, but Eustace says he is unlikely to run from barrier 15.
Chassis heads to the race as the winner of her past two starts, leading throughout at Sandown before camping just off the speed and pouncing on the leaders at Ipswich.
The stable is still dissecting the speed map for the Glasshouse, but Eustace says Chassis is versatile and doesn’t have to go forward from a wide draw in 18.
“Not necessarily. I haven’t had a good chance to assess the speed yet, but she doesn’t have to go forward and being a big track at the Sunshine Coast, they can run on,” Eustace said.
“She’s going very well. She will just need some luck in the run.”
Secret Glamour has been scratched from Sydney to run in Queensland and while Eustace is the first to admit she can be moody, he is also adamant she is up to the grade if she’s in the right frame of mind.
“She is cantankerous, and she mixes her form a little bit, but hopefully she can get some black-type for her new owners,” Eustace said.
“She is definitely up to it if she does turn up.”
The UK-born Eustace is back in Australia after a quick trip to his homeland where he and Maher oversaw Coolangatta’s bid for the King’s Stand Stakes at Royal Ascot.
Plans to continue the high-class mare’s European campaign have been aborted after she raced below expectations in the feature sprint, but the trainers have still taken plenty of positives from the venture.
“It wasn’t the result we quite wanted but it was good to get home and a good experience,” Eustace said.
“She pulled up fine but she didn’t run like we should stay and kick on, so we’re bringing her home.
“The first part of the spring is probably out of the question. Fitness-wise, she won’t be quite there and we’re keen to give her a nice break.”
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