James McDonald booking Tiz key for Maher
Ciaron Maher and David Eustace will be out to keep their early season momentum rolling when they chase their second black-type win in as many weeks at Rosehill.
After capturing the Group 2 Missile Stakes with I Am Me last weekend, the powerhouse stable will saddle up two runners in Saturday’s Listed Rosebud (1100m), progressive filly Tiz Invincible and city winner Griff.
A $2.50 race favourite, Tiz Invincible returns for her second campaign having shown promise in the autumn with a debut fourth in the Black Opal Stakes and a second to Kristilli in the Percy Sykes Stakes.
Significantly, top jockey James Mcdonald sticks with her after partnering her to a recent barrier trial win.
“It’s good to get him on and get his thoughts. He’s normally on the best one, isn’t he,” Maher said of McDonald.
“She has always had quality and hopefully she can get a bit of black type.
“She’s still going to come on a bit from the run, she is a little bit wintery, but she’s a high-quality horse in a nice race and it’s a small enough field.”
Barn mate Griff took three starts to break his maiden at Warwick Farm in June and is one of the outsiders of the eight-horse field at $19.
While acknowledging the colt must make a steep transition to stakes company, Maher won’t be surprised to see him run a bold race, saying the Trapeze Artist youngster has developed physically into his three-year-old season.
“It is (a big step) but I think he’s good and ready,” Maher said.
“He is one horse that, when he won, he was very baby looking.
“He’s a horse that I think will improve a lot this weekend.”
Maher and Eustace are hunting for their second win in the Rosebud after collecting the feature three years ago with the speedy Anders.
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