Maharba takes out Talindert Stakes

Success on the straight Flemington track in the Listed Talindert Stakes is likely to be beneficial for Maharba later in the year.

New trainer Grahame Begg hopes the gelding may return to Flemington during Melbourne Cup week for the Group 1 Coolmore Stud Stakes (1200m).

Formerly trained by David Payne in Sydney, Maharba was transferred into Begg’s care around Christmas and showed his potential when placed in a Cranbourne trial on February 6.

Begg indicated Maharba may return to Sydney for the Group 1 ATC Sires’ Produce Stakes (1400m) at Randwick in April.

“We’ve got two options,” Begg said.

“We either go to the Todman Stakes for wait and go to the Pago Pago and make him more of a Sires’ Produce type of horse and be a fresh horse on the scene.

“We’ll work it out and discuss it with the owners.

“We’ll also have to discuss if they want to pay the late entry fee for the Golden Slipper, and that is a lot of money.”