Warrnambool trainer Ciaron Maher’s mind might be on the Caulfield Cup in two weeks time but he will ask his brave gelding Mr O’Ceirin to put in another strong performance in Saturday’s Turnbull Stakes at Flemington.
Maher has decided not to risk Mr O’Ceirin in the Caulfield Stakes next Saturday and is content to let him rest up before his date in the $2.5 million Group One Caulfield Cup on October 19.
“You don’t have to race the horse every week,” Maher said.
“He’ll be better suited to the 2400 metres (in the Caulfield Cup) but it wouldn’t surprise me if he ran a good race in the Turnbull.”
Mr O’Ceirin’s spring campaign has been nicely spaced with a second placing to Ibicenco in the Listed Heatherlie Stakes on August 21 before his win in the Naturalism 21 days later, which earned him automatic entry into the Caulfield Cup.
“He’s an easy horse to ride. In the Heatherlie there was good pace so he was back about sixth and in the Naturalism there was no pace so he led,” he said.
“He doesn’t come out the quickest but he can muster speed very quickly.
The field in the Turnbull, over 2000 metres, is being touted as the strongest in a decade with Melbourne Cup favourite Puissance de Lune, 2012 Melbourne Cup runner-up Fiorente, Australian Cup winner Super Cool and the current top two in Caulfield Cup betting, Chris Waller’s stablemates Hawkspur and Royal Descent, lining up.
The trainer of New Zealand Derby winner Silent Achiever, Roger James, says his horse is also looking for the longer mile-and-a-half distance.
“But I’d be disappointed if she is not right in the mix,” he said.
“If she is going to be ready for the Caulfield Cup then she’ll be ready for Saturday – there will be nowhere to hide.”
