Ciaron Maher with two 2024 Geelong Cup hopes
The Ciaron Maher stable will chase a first win in the Geelong Cup with Herman Hesse and Interpretation in line for honours.
The Group 3 contest over 2400m on Wednesday is one of the few staying feature races run in Victoria that has eluded Maher who secured a second Caulfield Cup when Duke De Sessa took out the 2400m Group 1 Handicap last Saturday.
Herman Hesse is chasing a winning hat-trick, having taken out the Listed R M Ansett Classic (2400m) at Mornington before winning the Group 2 Herbert Power Stakes (2400m) at Caulfield on October 12.
On the other hand, Interpretation is looking to register his first win in 12 months having not won since the Group 3 Bendigo Cup (2400m) last November, which secured a start for the stayer in the Group 1 Melbourne Cup (3200m) at Flemington in which he finished sixth behind Without A Fight.
Interpretation’s whole campaign has been geared around the Melbourne Cup this year and currently the stayer in number 27 in the Order of Entry, but Maher is confident the stayer will gain a start in the Cup on November 7.
Maher took heart from Duke De Sessa’s Caulfield Cup win having run well in that same race 12 months previously.
“Duke ran really well in the Caulfield Cup (last year), although it might not look that good on paper,” Maher said.
“And he’s come out and won the Caulfield Cup this year.
“If you look at Interpretation’s run in the Melbourne Cup last year, it was super, but it looks only fair on paper, and I think he’s in a similar spot to last year.
“He was super in it last year and I think he’s right on track.”
Maher could not be happier with the progress Herman Hesse has made this campaign and said the stayer was a big chance to keep the winning run going.
“Herman is going super. I’m rapt with him,” Maher said.
“Drawn one, he’ll land on speed again and he’s a happy, healthy horse that is in good form and I expect him to run really well again.”
The Chris Waller pair of Francesco Guardi and Manzoice will potentially miss the Geelong Cup having also accepted for the Group 2 Moonee Valley Cup (2500m) on Friday night.
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