Trainer Ciaron Maher is content with the progress Another Wil has made as he prepares for a Group 1 assignment at Caulfield.
Another Wil heads to the Sir Rupert Clarke Stakes (1400m) on Saturday, a race in which he finished second to Kimochi in last year.
This year the Group 1 handicap, in which Another Wil has topweight of 59kg, has been brought forward to its original September date having been run in November in recent years.
Maher suspected Another Wil would need the run when a first-up sixth to Treasurethe Moment in the Group 1 Memsie Stakes (1400m) at Caulfield on August 30, but under-estimated just how underdone he was.
But after a gallop at Caulfield on Tuesday morning, with Jamie Kah in the saddle, Maher was much happier with the gelding’s fitness.
“His last two pieces of work have been very good,” Maher said.
“Jamie knows him very well and she has been up and about after his last two pieces.
“She gave a positive report and said ‘that was more like it’, I think her words were. He travelled up on the bit and looked to have plenty in hand.
“I thought he would improve with the run, but he was a little further away than I thought.
“He’s pulled up well, he strips a bit fitter. It’s shaping to be a pretty good race, but he’s got a pretty good record at the 1400 (metres) at the track.”
Another Wil won the Group 1 C F Orr Stakes at the track and distance in February and Maher concedes Saturday’s race will not be an easy assignment.
Maher was taken with the work of fellow Sir Rupert Clarke opponent Angel Capital on Tuesday.
The Chris Waller-trained galloper worked solo with Damian Lane in the saddle and will carry just 53.5kg on Saturday.
“He (Another Wil) has got a bit of weight, and it was good to see another horse of Chris Waller’s have a bowl around and it looked pretty good as well,” Maher said.
“It will be a good race, but he’ll (Another Wil) improve, which he needs to.
“I’m confident. I wanted to wait the extra week rather than go last week to the Makybe Diva, but looking at the Makybe, maybe I should have gone there.
“Anyway, we make these calls, and he goes to Saturday’s race in good order.”
