The Australian Cup Prelude at Flemington may not hold as much importance as the day’s earlier features, but it may provide a spotlight to riches later in the year.
Ciaron Maher is set to unveil two imported gallopers in the 2000m contest on Saturday – Augustus and Desert Hero.
Desert Hero has had a run on Australian soil previously, travelling out from the UK under the care of William Haggas for last year’s Sydney Autumn Carnival.
On the other hand, German-bred Augustus has not raced since mid-last year when seen winning at Hamburg and is now part-owned by Australian Bloodstock who have brought to Australia previous Melbourne Cup winners Protectionist and Gold Trip.
Maher said Augustus reminds him a little of Gold Trip who provided the trainer with his maiden Melbourne Cup victory in 2022.
“He flicks his action a little bit like Gold Trip,” Maher said.
“He’s got good, strong formlines coming across.
“We opted not to bring him out in quarantine. We opted to give him a break and let him furnish and he’s certainly done that.
“I think he’s come up super.”
Augustus has had a jump-out and a 1500m trial to prepare him for Saturday’s return in which he will be ridden by Mark Zahra.
“Mark rode him the other day at Caulfield (Heath) and he liked what he felt,” Maher said.
“I think Flemington will suit, a big, open galloping track. I think he will be a horse we will see more of in these better staying races.”
Maher expects Augustus to have only a brief autumn campaign before concentrating on the spring and the Caulfield Cup and Melbourne Cup double.
“He’ll probably have a couple of runs and whether he goes to Queensland, we’ll work that out with the Australian Bloodstock boys, but he’s impressed me with what I’ve seen,” Maher said.
Desert Hero has only been seen once since his appearance at Randwick last April, finishing fourth in the 1500m trial at Caulfield Heath in which Augustus finished second.
Maher said Desert Hero was given an extended break after his Sydney outing and sent time in New Zealand.
“He’s got a good solid base. He prepped up over in New Zealand,” Maher said.
“He had a long break, which I think he needed and he’s come up well also.
“He’s been out of form for a little while, so he needs to find form, but looking at the way he is, he should hit the line well also.”
