It has taken some effort and patience to get Future History back to the winners’ list but now that the former import is in a richer vein of form, Ciaron Maher hopes he can make is four-in-a-row on Australia Day.
The former French import takes his place in the Listed Australia Day Cup (2400m) at Warwick Farm on Monday and the eight-year-old is in the best run of success since his four-year-old year where he won four of his seven starts in France.
“He’s in a good spot and when he gets that right race shape, I don’t think it matters what the trip is,” Maher said of the $3.20 chance.
Similar to race distances, a jockey roundabout has seen Adam Hyeronimus aboard when winning the Listed Christmas Cup (2400m) at Randwick on December 13, then Ethan Brown at Flemington when taking out the Listed Bagot Handicap (2800m) on New Year’s Eve, followed by Nash Rawiller in the Listed January Cup (2000m) at Rosehill on January 17.
This time Future History is back with Hyeronimus who in his last 100 rides has a 33.3% winning strike rate and 66.7% place rate when teaming up with the Maher stable.
Although that only takes in six mounts, it would appear that “Hippo” is on at the right times.
“It is all about the race shape and when he gets his way, he quickens up and it doesn’t matter whether the race is 2000-metres or 2400,” Maher added.
Maher identified Future History’s 14th place in the 2023 Melbourne Cup (3200m) as having had an effect on the gelding.
“It took a long time for him to come good after that,” Maher said.
“He was still fourth in a Champions Stakes at Flemington and these races aren’t Champions 2000s. He is just a horse that is fit, well and thriving.
“This race was always a target and I ran him in the other ones because I thought he could win.
“He was an expensive enough horse when the connections bought him so I’m rapt that he’s putting a few together.”
As of Sunday, Maher was undecided whether $2.35 favourite Saint George would take his place in the field with the target being the Group 3 Roy Higgins Quality (2600m) at Flemington on March 28.
