Strong hand for Maher in The Lakes

The Ciaron Maher stable is poised to be strongly represented in this Saturday’s $500,000 The Lakes at Wyong, with three contenders in line to contest the 1600-metre feature.

Maher’s New South Wales-based assistant trainer Johann Gerard-Dubord said Chorlton Lane, Junipal and St Lawrence were all scheduled to head to the feature race at the meeting at Wyong.

The stablemates competed in separates states at their most recent starts, with Chorlton Lane coming off a third placing in the $1 million The Supernova (1400m) at Pakenham, while Junipal was runner-up at Listed level over 1600m in Brisbane at his most recent outing on December 21.

St Lawrence won the Little Dance at Randwick in November before finishing sixth in the Festival Stakes later that month at Rosehill in his most recent outing.

“Chorlton Lane ran very well in The Supernova last start,” Gerard-Dubord said.

“A mile is probably as far as he wants. He a horse that needs a bit of tempo. Over a mile he can overdo it but a tight track like Wyong, hopefully they can go a bit quicker and it will suit him.

“We’re hoping the rain stays away for him. He needs dry tracks.”

Gerard-Dubord, however, said nine-year-old gelding Junipal was the opposite to Chorlton Lane in that he appreciates rain affected going.

“Junipal loves wet tracks,” he said.

“He’s had a good preparation. He’s been very consistent and has been racing in Queensland lately. A mile is his right trip.”

St Lawrence finished strongly to win back-to-back races over the Randwick mile earlier this preparation and Gerard-Dubord said the six-year-old gelding had a couple of easy weeks after his most recent start in the Festival Stakes before continuing preparations towards his next assignment in The Lakes.

“He had a tick over trial last Monday at Newcastle,” Gerard-Dubord said.

“It looks the right race for him, it’s just whether the shape of the track will really suit him.

“He’s a horse with a big action and always finds himself in the second half (of the field during the run). But he’s going very well.”

The Maher trio are among 21 entries for The Wave with The Ingham winner Robusto, highly-rated pair Osipenko and Palmetto, Canberra Cup winner Almania and last-start Belle Of The Turf winner Konasana among their potential rivals.