Seraphox heads to Flemington's Anzac Day Stakes for Maher stable
Ciaron Maher's yard has transported Seraphox to Melbourne for a Stakes contest that presents a range of future possibilities for this two-year-old.
The youngster will tackle the Listed Anzac Day Stakes (1400m) at Flemington on Saturday, coming off two Sydney starts with a win at Warwick Farm as his latest effort.
Impressed early by the colt, the Maher stable debuted him in the Group 2 Todman Stakes (1200m) at Rosehill last month, where despite being second last, he was beaten by only four lengths.
Jack Turnbull, who serves as National Assistant Trainer for Ciaron Maher Racing, described Seraphox as a colt with significant potential in the stable's eyes.
"He's a beautiful horse," Turnbull said.
"It's the right trip and it's the right time to bring him down.
"He debuted in a good race on a Saturday in Sydney and did a few things wrong, and then he won his maiden next time around.
"He's been down here a couple of weeks, and he's taken to the left-handed direction without a problem.
"He's a placid animal and has taken no extra work to settle him in, he's been very natural and very straight forward.
"He will be a very interesting horse because he will continue to get better as he's only young and whatever he does over 1400 (metres) you can potentially look to the spring, if he takes that step."
According to Turnbull, the stable's plans hinge on Seraphox's Saturday result, and a winter venture to Brisbane remains an option.
Potential targets include the Group 2 BRC Sires' Produce Stakes (1400m) on May 30 at Eagle Farm and the Group 1 JJ Atkins (1600m) there two weeks on.
"There are races in Brisbane if we wanted to push on, or we could put him away and go through the pathway of trying to get him to the (Caulfield) Guineas in the spring," Turnbull said.
Nialah, another Sydney juvenile, joins the Anzac Day Stakes field after her debut third in a Wyong maiden, her only previous run.
Turnbull explained that Nialah required some time to mature into racing.
"Early in her career she was very fast and fierce, but she's settled a bit now and we were pleased with how she ran at Wyong," Turnbull said.
"Joe and the team up there in Sydney were pretty keen to step her up in trip, so she's come down for an early chance at some Black Type."
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