The reach of the Ciaron Maher stable is underlined by the fact that Maher is the only trainer to have runners in the two richest races set to be contested in Australia on Saturday … the $1.5 million Winterbottom Stakes at Ascot in Perth and the $750 000 Zipping Classic at Caulfield … races that are taking place 3400km apart.
Maher saddles Benedetta, a relative newcomer to his stable, in the Winterbottom.
The mare, who won eight starts for trainer Jason Warren right up to Group 1 level in the Goodwood before changing stables, has only had two starts for Maher. She finished unplaced in both of those outings, but her last result when coming home in fifth place only 2.95 lengths behind the back-in-form Giga Kick translated int a very useful pipe-opener for this next assignment out west.
The daughter of Hellbent should strip fitter for those two runs and could be ready to show her best. Daniel Stackhouse takes the ride.
Benedetta is currently an $18 chance.
The Winterbottom will be run roughly two-and-a-half hours after the Zipping Classic is decided, so Maher will know if the big Group double win for the day is possible by the time the Winterbottom field faces the starter.
Maher has the numbers on his side going into the Zipping Classic where he will saddle no less than five runners.
The seven-year-old chestnut Light Infantry Man could be the pick of the Maher runners here. He comes into the race on the back of two Group 1 performances in the Cox Plate and the Champion Stakes and has been marked up as the second favourite for the race behind the Grahame Begg trained She’s A Hustler.
The Cox Plate and the Champion Stakes were races won by Via Sistina … and there is no Via Sistina in this lineup.
Other Maher runners in the Zipping Classic are Smokin’ Romans, whose last start was in the Melbourne Cup … Interpretation, who finished fifth in the Bendigo Cup last time out … the veteran Strawberry Rock … and the grey Berkshire Breeze, who finished fourth in the Group 2 Moonee Valley Cup when last in action.
