Augustus and Desert Hero debut in Flemington feature

While the Australian Cup Prelude at Flemington doesn't carry the weight of the day's opening races, it has the potential to highlight future stars for major events ahead.

Ciaron Maher will launch two newcomers from overseas in the Saturday 2000m race – Augustus and Desert Hero.

Desert Hero already has Australian experience, arriving from Britain with William Haggas for last season's Sydney Autumn Carnival.

Conversely, Augustus, bred in Germany, hasn't started since winning in Hamburg midway through last year and shares ownership now with Australian Bloodstock, importers of former Melbourne Cup victors Protectionist and Gold Trip.

According to Maher, Augustus evokes thoughts of Gold Trip, who handed him his initial Melbourne Cup triumph in 2022.

"He flicks his action a little bit like Gold Trip," Maher said.

"He's got good, strong formlines coming across.

We opted not to bring him out in quarantine. We opted to give him a break and let him furnish and he's certainly done that.

I think he's come up super."

Saturday's return will follow a jump-out and 1500m trial for Augustus, with Mark Zahra aboard.

"Mark rode him the other day at Caulfield (Heath) and he liked what he felt," Maher said.

"I think Flemington will suit, a big, open galloping track. I think he will be a horse we will see more of in these better staying races."

The trainer foresees a concise autumn schedule for Augustus before shifting focus to spring targets including the Caulfield Cup and Melbourne Cup.

"He'll probably have a couple of runs and whether he goes to Queensland, we'll work that out with the Australian Bloodstock boys, but he's impressed me with what I've seen," Maher said.

Desert Hero's sole outing since April at Randwick was a fourth in the Caulfield Heath 1500m trial, behind Augustus in second.

Maher explained that after Sydney, Desert Hero enjoyed a prolonged rest and training in New Zealand.

"He's got a good solid base. He prepped up over in New Zealand," Maher said.

"He had a long break, which I think he needed and he's come up well also.

He's been out of form for a little while, so he needs to find form, but looking at the way he is, he should hit the line well also."

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