Ciaron Maher turns to backup plan for Salty Pearl at Caulfield
Ciaron Maher's yard intends to repeat a winning tactic to claim a valuable age-restricted event at Caulfield.
In the $500,000 VOBIS Platinum Guineas (1600m) on Saturday, Salty Pearl seeks to advance beyond her latest placing from Flemington.
Past success in backing up includes her victory at Moonee Valley during Cox Plate Day last year, following a fourth in the Group 1 Thousand Guineas (1600m) at Caulfield seven days prior.
The stable will equip Salty Pearl with blinkers for this Saturday's appearance.
She enters fourth-up after a third on resumption at Caulfield in January, a second behind Sheza Alibi in the Angus Armanasco Stakes (1400m) at the same track last month, and then third to Sass Appeal in the Kewney Stakes at Flemington last week.
"We backed her up last prep and she was able to win at The Valley, and this looks a nice race for her, and we know that she can back up," Maher said.
"We've got the blinkers up our sleeve which we'll use on Saturday. We popped them on last campaign and she hit the mark.
"She came through that last run well and I think she's still on the up."
Salty Pearl has been consistently placed in nine of her 11 career starts.
Her only non-placings, excluding the Thousand Guineas, came on debut in the Merson Cooper Stakes as a juvenile.
Maher also holds high hopes for Milsons Point to regain form in the $1 million The Showdown (1200m).
After a winning debut at Pakenham and second in Caulfield's Blue Diamond Preview, he faltered to near last in the elite Melbourne two-year-old race last month.
"His two runs prior to the Blue Diamond Stakes were very good," Maher said.
"The Blue Diamond didn't go to plan, but he worked well earlier in the week and if work is anything to go by, he should run back to form and that should hold him in good stead for Saturday."
Check the online bookmakers for attractive racing betting markets on the VOBIS Platinum Guineas.
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