Trainer Grahame Begg says he may have to look interstate with Maharba after the gelding has his first-up run at Caulfield.
Maharba runs in the Group 3 Zeditave Stakes (1200m) on Saturday, a race that Begg said was not an ideal starting point for the three-year-old.
Begg would have preferred an 1100m race for Maharba to start off his campaign in, but the trainer said there were no suitable races at that trip for his sprinter.
He said the three-year-olds on a path to the Australian Guineas (1600m) were well catered for, but if you are not a miler, then it’s a struggle to find suitable races.
“I would have preferred to have run him in an 1100-metre race, but this was the only race from when the Manfred Stakes (at Caulfield) was run a month ago,” Begg said.
“It’s something the programmers need to look at for the three-year-olds. It’s alright if you are on a Guineas path, but it’s different for the sprinters.
“There’s the Sunlight Classic late next month, which is 1100 metres, but that’s not ideal as you are coming back from 1200 metres.
“There’s an Inglis sales race on March 2 which he can’t run in, then there’s an 1100-metre the following week, which he could have run in, but he’s ready now.
“So, they force our hand a bit, and he may have to go up to Sydney.
Maharba has not raced since finishing second in the Group 3 Red Anchor Stakes (1200m) at Moonee Valley last October.
He started his last campaign in disappointing fashion down the straight at Flemington, beating only two runners home, while at the start of his previous campaign Maharba took out the Talindert Stakes (1100m) at Flemington.
Begg said Maharba had come up nicely for his return run.
“He’s got good form and he’s got good form around him,” Begg said.
