Ciaron Maher eyes four entrants for VRC St Leger
The champion stayer trainer Ciaron Maher counts one horse already locked in for Saturday's Listed VRC St Leger at Flemington, but he is pushing for substantially more involvement in the key event.
Among the 28 declarations for the $200,000 2800-metre race are Awesome Artist, Noble Falcon, Intervened, and Tasmanian Derby champion Dad And Dave.
With the field capped at 18 plus four reserves, Awesome Artist looks well-positioned to make the cut, though Noble Falcon and Intervened are currently excluded, prompting assistant trainer Jack Turnbull to hope they can slip through for this perfect assignment.
"We feel for those three it's a good option and all horses are going to relish the trip," Turnbull said.
"They're all going to furnish and they're going to learn with racing.
"They're just raw young horses that are bred to stay and they'll continue to learn and mature as they get older."
A second victory in the longstanding Victorian Anzac Day spectacle is on Maher's agenda, following his 2021 triumph with Through Irish Eyes alongside former partner David Eustace.
Recent efforts by Dad And Dave have seen him trail the field in the Group 2 Alister Clark Stakes (2000m) and the Listed Galilee Series Final (2400m), yet Listed successes in the Launceston Guineas (2000m) and Tasmanian Derby (2400m) ensure his place in the St Leger lineup.
In the Galilee Final, Awesome Artist trailed Dad And Dave by 2-3/4 lengths, building on a prior 2000m success at Canberra, with Turnbull indicating a strongly contested pace would maximise his winning prospects.
"They might have just went a fraction sedate throughout," Turnbull said of the Galilee Final.
"He's one-paced and needs a true gallop."
Last sighted, Proisir gelding Noble Falcon ended fourth to barnmate Ardashir in a Pakenham maiden over 2550m, after securing his sole career placing beforehand over 2540m at Cranbourne from four starts.
A Kermadec son named Intervened has no placings from three races and sixths in his current campaign's two efforts at Pakenham, 1600m and 2000m.
The VRC St Leger also attracts Dom Sutton's fillies After Summer and Classic Gem, runners-up behind the winner as third and fourth in the Group 1 ATC Oaks recently, along with Arabian Prince, Deal Done Fast, and Savisanta from the ATC Derby.
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