The Ciaron Maher stable may not have the largest number of entries for the Melbourne Cup, but it has a mix of horses already in Australia along with those to travel from Europe.
Nominations closed on Tuesday for the Melbourne Cup (3200m) at Flemington on November 5, with Maher entering 16 horses for Group 1 race.
Chris Waller heads the nomination tally with 21, but Maher holds a strong hand as he chases a second win in the Melbourne Cup having scored with Gold Trip in 2022.
Of the 16 entries, Maher said if the stable could have a ‘handful’ of runners, he would be happy.
“They’re all not going to get there, but if we had a good handful, we’d be happy,” Maher said.
“I’m very happy with this year’s group and I would say it is quite comparable to previous years.
“I think the stable has had four and six runners in past years and four of them have finished in the top ten previously.
“I think we’ve got some nice acquisitions and the ones that are here, they’re on the right path.”
Maher pointed to Sydney Cup winner Circle Of Fire, Saint George, who made his Australian debut at Caulfield last Saturday, along with Berkshire Breeze and Interpretation as potentially the best of the local hopes.
Those coming from Europe to watch for are Middle Earth, Royal Supremacy and Sayedaty Sadaty.
“Circle Of Fire’s turn of foot in Sydney in the lead up to his Sydney Cup win, his sectionals were very slick, and we know he runs two miles,” Maher said.
“Saint George brings that same sort of form that Middle Earth has got, but it’s 12 months down the track and the two miles should be no trouble for him either.”
Maher said Berkshire Breeze and Interpretation had been progressing well through winter, just as Persan and Grand Promenade had done when winding up with a good finishing position.
He said both those horses would try to gain a Golden Ticket into the Melbourne Cup by winning The Archer (2500m) on September 14 or The Bart Cummings (2500m) on October 5.
Maher said Middle Earth was an exciting horse.
“If you take out his last run, his form is some of the best in the world,” Maher said.
“He’s a very exciting horse and has been gelded since then. He’s with Harry Eustace at the moment, and he’s very happy with him.
“Sayedaty Sadaty, he’s the right sort of horse, he’s a progressive stayer, improving with each run and has had the right grounding with racing over there.”
Maher said a horse from ‘left field’ that could emerge as a Cup contender was Promises Kept who ran second in the South Australian Derby and fourth in Queensland Derby last year and has only had three runs since.
“He trialled well the other day,” Maher said.
“Things would have to go right for him, but he could be that type of horse that if he’s winning a country cup, Bendigo, or Geelong, hopefully he could be in there.”