Big Dance winner Gringotts is the clear top pick of Ciaron Maher’s squad for the $1 million The Gong, but the leading trainer won’t be surprised to see the horse’s biggest threat comes from of a stablemate.
Gringotts had three-quarters of a length to spare over barn mate Vivy Air in the Big Dance and with the latter enjoying a slight weight advantage at Kembla Grange on Saturday, Maher said there was no reason she couldn’t turn the tables.
“She was hitting the line pretty hard and weight is going to come into it,” Maher said.
“He has to give her seven kilos and there wasn’t a lot in it last start, so can she? You’d say she could.”
Originally with Archie Alexander, Vivy Air ($15) was twice placed in Group company at three before joining Maher’s team prior to her current campaign.
It took her a few runs to hit her straps before she finished a slashing second in the Big Dance Wild Card and again in the $3 million showpiece.
While she does have a tricky draw in 13 for Saturday’s The Gong (1600m), Maher says the four-year-old has continued to please them at home.
“Vivy Air is just improving with each run. She is going great,” he said.
“The owners were giving us some grief early on in the prep, but they’re pretty happy now.”
He is also hoping the addition of blinkers can spark a response from Berkshire Shadow ($17), a Group 1 placegetter over a mile in Europe.
The gelding has been mixing his form and Maher is adamant he has more to offer.
“He just needs to find a little bit. He’s a bit like (stablemate) Light Infantry Man, great credentials in the UK but just hasn’t really hit the mark here yet,” Maher said.
“He’s got it there, maybe the blinkers are the key.”
Maher can also make a case for an improved run from Griff, who at $81 is the outsider of his Gong quintet, which includes first emergency Glory Daze ($31).
Last year’s Caulfield Guineas winner, Griff has struggled for form this spring, however, Maher says he is going better than it might appear.
“I’m glad that he drew soft because we rode him quiet at Caulfield (two starts ago) and Ben Melham said he was going to run really well then he got disappointed and he went to the line unextended,” Maher said.
“I’d like to ride the same race on him. We’re quite happy with him at home, but he does have to lift.”
Maher is aiming to become the first trainer to win The Gong twice after taking it out last year with Detonator Jack.
