Clinton McDonald says he will try to win the Group Two Tristarc Stakes with Lady Mahler on Caulfield Cup day following her tough on-pace effort to score on her home track on Saturday.
McDonald trains at the same Caulfield stables as his father Ross who prepared Tristarc to win five Group One races including the 1985 AJC Derby and Caulfield Cup.
Lady Mahler was to be ridden by Glen Boss in Saturday’s Carlton Draught Sweep Hcp (1100m) but was replaced by Danny Nikolic after Boss fractured his upper arm when his mount Crystal Lily dropped dead during a jumpout at Flemington on Friday morning.
“It was terrible what happened to Glen. We are very good family friends with the Boss family and his son Tayte is here today,” McDonald said.
“We wish him all the best and a speedy recovery. There’s no doubt Bossy will bounce back bigger and better than ever.”
McDonald said Lady Mahler had a track gallop against boom three-year-old Smart Missile on Tuesday morning.
Boss was to ride Smart Missile in Saturday’s Group One Rupert Clarke Stakes but that mount went to Hong Kong-based Brett Prebble.
“It (the track gallop) was a good test for her. Glen rode Smart Missile and he was rapt with his colt and he was rapt with the way this mare worked,” he said.
Sent out at $5.50, the Al Maher five-year-old sat outside race leader Netra and forged to the front in the straight before scoring by three-quarters of a length from Total Liberty ($26) who finished strongly from last.
The $2.25 favourite Neriani ran an even race to be a half-neck away third.
“She’s a good, tough racehorse, Saturday class. I’d like to have a few more like her,” McDonald said of Lady Mahler who has won four races, including two at Caulfield, and run four seconds from 13 starts.
“I’d love to win the Tristarc with her on Caulfield Cup day because of the old man. That would be a nice race to win,” McDonald said.
The 1400m Tristarc is run on October 15.
AAP TURF
