In-form Shanwah primed for G1 Australian Derby mission

Leading trainer Ciaron Maher is banking on a tried and tested lead-up path as Shanwah gets set to tackle the Group 1 Australian Derby (2400m) this weekend at Randwick.

Shanwah has gone from strength to strength this campaign, stringing together four straight victories, including strong showings in the Autumn Classic (1800m) and the Alister Clark Stakes (2040m).

Maher is no stranger to Derby success, having won the race twice with Hitotsu and Explosive Jack, but he’s guiding Shanwah along the path previously taken by stable runners Global Exchange and Ruthven, who both performed admirably without winning.

“I brought him through the same path as a horse called Global Exchange, who ran sixth. He didn’t handle the wet,” Maher said.

“And another horse, Ruthven, that ran fourth. I took them through the same path.

I think he is better than those horses. Any sort of track wouldn’t worry him. He just keeps stepping up each time he runs.”

By Too Darn Hot, Shanwah is bred to stay and has thrived since stepping out over longer trips. His dominance in recent runs has Maher optimistic heading into Saturday’s feature.

“He has been very good his last two and has won by a space both times,” Maher said.

“He has had a prep up here before so he is no stranger to this way of going.

Class counts for a lot in these three-year-old races and he’s got a lot of that.”

The Randwick Derby has attracted a full line-up of 18 with five emergencies. Aeliana, drawn in barrier two, heads the market as a $3.50 favourite. Shanwah, who jumps from gate four, is well respected at $8.