Maher hopeful Juja Kibo can cap strong campaign in Zipping Classic

Juja Kibo has already achieved more than anticipated this season, but trainer Ciaron Maher is optimistic that the six-year-old gelding's journey isn't over yet.

The imported galloper is slated to compete in the $750,000 Group 2 Zipping Classic (2400m) at Sandown this Saturday.

This outing follows his involvement in Maher's remarkable Melbourne Cup trifecta, where he was narrowly beaten for second by Zahrann, finishing 3-3/4 lengths behind the commanding winner Point Of Law.

Prior to that, Juja Kibo secured victories in the Moonee Valley Cup (2500m) and The Metropolitan (2400m) at Group 2 level. While many Melbourne Cup contenders have been sent for a spell, Maher feels Juja Kibo is still in good shape.

"He bounced through it really well," Maher shared regarding the horse's Melbourne Cup recovery.

"He just keeps raising the bar, he gets a bit better each time he steps out and he's been on a bit of a whirlwind this prep."

Before competing in The Metropolitan this campaign, Juja Kibo's only two prior starts resulted in a third in the Rowley Mile (1600m) and a second in the Kingston Town Stakes (2000m).

He marks the first Melbourne Cup placegetter to subsequently run in the Zipping Classic since Spanish Mission, who finished unplaced as a heavy favourite ($1.40) in the 2021 Zipping Classic after running third in the Melbourne Cup.

A significant trend shows that twelve of the last twenty-five Zipping Classic winners have contested the Melbourne Cup, and Juja Kibo is not the only runner from this year's Cup field heading to Sandown.

Knight's Choice, the victor of the 2024 Melbourne Cup, is also set for Sandown following his 12th-place finish, alongside Strictly Business (18th), Vauban (last), and Juja Kibo's stablemate Middle Earth, who crossed the line in 10th place in the Melbourne Cup.

Maher suggested that Middle Earth, who had finished third in the Melbourne Cup a year prior to Juja Kibo's Cup run, was hampered by the race's dynamics and still has more to offer.

"He came out of it really well," he commented.

"He overdid it. (Royal) Supremacy went a nice tempo, but the rest of the field didn't and that didn't really suit him, so he didn't have much of a run."

Mark Zahra, who rode Middle Earth in the Melbourne Cup, will forgo that ride to partner the strong favourite Small Fry in the Zipping Classic. This decision allows Ethan Brown to reunite with Middle Earth, a horse he rode in last year's Melbourne Cup.

Middle Earth is drawn barrier five, with Juja Kibo, who will again be partnered by Sam Clipperton, to jump from the inside alley.

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