Irish import kicks off campaign at Bendigo

The Ciaron Maher stable has high hopes for imported galloper Zahrann who will make his Australian debut at Bendigo.

The Listed Golden Mile (1600m) on Saturday will be the Irish-bred galloper’s seventh race start, and he comes to Australia with some good form behind him.

Bendigo has been dubbed the ‘Nursery of Champions’ with horses the calibre of Better Loosen Up, Hyperno and Salamander starting their careers and it is seen as a nice track for imports to kick off their Australian careers.

Observational, who was prepared by Robert Hickmott and owned by Lloyd and Nick Williams, won the Golden Mile in 2015 at his Australian debut.

Zahrann has only had one start at a trip shorter than 2000m, finishing second in a Navan maiden over 1609m on debut in April last year.

Jack Turnbull, National Assistant Trainer for Ciaron Maher Racing, said he was unsure what to expect from the entire who has had two jump-outs to prepare for Saturday’s return.

“I won’t say it will be too short, but in a perfect world he’s going to want a bit further,” Turnbull said.

“He takes a lot riding. He’s a very complacent animal, but when he puts his mind to it, he can really have a crack.

“He’s really exciting for the spring and that was why he was purchased, ideally for a race like the Caulfield Cup and you go through his form in Europe, it’s pretty exciting.

“If we can capture a bit of that on Saturday and build off that, that would be great, and our plan is to get to the spring.”

Turnbull said Saturday’s race would decide what path the stable takes.

He said there was the option of going north to Brisbane or back off for the spring.

“The spring comes around very quick,” Turnbull said.

“I wouldn’t say he will spell between now and spring, it’s just where he ticks over, in what location.”

Turnbull said it had been a slow process getting Zahrann to racing stage after arriving in Australia last year.

He said the entire had some feet issues when he arrived that required attention.

“When we started with him, we trained him barefoot for a while, took him back to basics, and had our farrier team get on top of him,” Turnbull said.

“He had a few small hiccups, but looking back, we’re well on top of that now.

“He’s a very attractive stallion and being Bendigo, a lovely galloping track, a lovely surface, it should be ideal.

“He’ll be asked to step away, hold a spot somewhere, hopefully that’s midfield, or thereabouts and then have one run at them to be finishing off, and if that is good enough, then that’s great, otherwise we build and look for something a little longer.”

The Maher team also has Holymanz engaged in Saturday’s contest and Turnbull said the gelding enters Saturday’s race in prime condition.

At his last start, Holymanz finished fifth on a soft track at Flemington, but showed Turnbull he was in good order with a recent jump-out at Cranbourne.

“As I always say, you would love to own him,” Turnbull said.

“He’s so well. He’s had a little jump-out since his last run. He’s fresh, so consistent and the mile is his trip.

“If he runs to his level and gets a smooth run, I’m sure he’s good enough.”