Ciaron Maher on the Verge of Breaking His Own Records in Melbourne Racing
Ciaron Maher, the renowned Australian racehorse trainer, is on the cusp of breaking a record he set with his former co-trainer, David Eustace, for the most number of metropolitan winners prepared in a single season.
After the victory of Fabrice at Sandown on Wednesday, Maher has now prepared an impressive 103 city winners in Melbourne for the 2023-24 racing season. This remarkable achievement has also seen Maher push through the $50 million mark in prize money for the current season, narrowly trailing behind the legendary Chris Waller, who accomplished the feat a few weeks earlier.
Preparing for the Sir John Monash Stakes
As Maher prepares to saddle a host of runners at Caulfield on Saturday, he will be looking to surpass the 104 city winners he and Eustace recorded in Melbourne during the 2021-22 season. Additionally, the stable will be eyeing another trophy, as they line up Recommendation, Senegalia, and Mrs Chrissie in the Group 3 Sir John Monash Stakes (1100m) at Caulfield.
Concerns and Hopes for the Trio
Assistant trainer Jack Turnbull, speaking on the trio’s prospects, stated that the three sprinters are in excellent form, although there are some concerns about the soft track conditions, particularly for Recommendation. Senegalia, on the other hand, is returning on the quick back-up after her previous run at Flemington.
Turnbull highlighted the significance of the Sir John Monash Stakes for the owners, as it provides an opportunity to add “Black Type” to the pedigree pages of Mrs Chrissie and Senegalia. He acknowledged that the small field for a race carrying Black Type status is an attractive proposition, and the team is hopeful of a strong performance from at least one of their runners.
As Ciaron Maher continues his relentless pursuit of records, the Australian racing community eagerly awaits the outcome of the Sir John Monash Stakes and the potential milestone that Maher may achieve in the coming weeks.
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