New Zealand via Bagot Handicap for Interpretation

Ciaron Maher elected against starting Melbourne Cup placegetter Okita Soushi in Wednesday’s Bagot Handicap at Flemington, but he still has one of the leading contenders for the $175,000 Listed feature.

Another of the star trainer’s 2024 Melbourne Cup team will be Maher’s sole representative, with Interpretation to run with Saffie Osborne aboard in the 2800-metre contest.

The Bagot Handicap will be Interpretation’s first start since his 15th placing in the 3200m Melbourne Cup on November 5 and is a stepping stone to a couple of 3200m Cups in New Zealand.

“He’s run in three Melbourne Cups, so he’s very seasoned, and he was one that had a week off, 10 days off and then we just kept going with him,” Maher’s assistant trainer Jack Turnbull said.

“Horses like that, Ciaron is an avid believer that they don’t need to have long time off. They’re mature, they’re sound, so we keep going from there.

“It’ll be an interesting race for him to kick off in and then head over to New Zealand.”

The NZ$400,000 Group 3 Wellington Cup is run on January 18, while there is also a later opportunity for Interpretation in the $600,000 Group 2 Auckland Cup on March 8.

Prior to the Melbourne Cup, Interpretation finished second to Onesmoothoperator in the Group 3 Geelong Cup (2400m). That was his best performance since the previous year’s Bendigo Cup (2400m), which remains his only win in Australia.

The Irish seven-year-old, a son of Galileo, has 57kg and barrier three in the Bagot Handicap, which has drawn a field including Muramasa and last-start Pakenham Cup winner Goldman.

Maher toyed with the idea of starting Okita Soushi, who was beaten less than a length in the Melbourne Cup, in an attempt to keep alive the hope of travelling to Dubai for the Gold Cup in March but his non-acceptance means remaining in Australia on a Sydney Cup path is most likely.

The Bagot Handicap is one of two $175,000 Listed features at Flemington on Wednesday, accompanied by the Kensington Stakes (1400m), which has attracted a field of seven, including Munhamek, Running By and The Open.