Ciaron Maher and David Eustace will attempt to extend their Group 1 winning run in Adelaide with two runners in the South Australian Derby (2500m) at Morphettville.
Four Group 1 races are run in Adelaide each season and already this year Maher and Eustace have collected the Australasian Oaks with Affaire A Suivre and the Robert Sangster Stakes with Ruthless Dame.
Australia’s leading stable for the 2022-23 season will be represented by stable newcomer Promises Kept along with Ain’t He Grand.
Eustace said the two horses are like chalk and cheese.
“You don’t look at him and go ‘that’s a good horse necessarily’ but mind you neither was Explosive Jack,” Eustace said of Promises Kept.
“The other horse will run well and he’s a complete opposite,” Eustace said.
“He’s a good-looking horse but hasn’t quite delivered what we thought he might do, but he will have blinkers on again and I think that will make a big difference.
“He trialled really well at Horsham with them on.”
Ain’t He Grand has not drawn well in Saturday’s contest coming up with gate 17 in the 20-horse field while Promises Kept has gate nine.
Promises Kept has not raced since winning the Bendigo St Leger Trial (2200m) on April 1 after which he was purchased by new owners and transferred from the stables of Greg Eurell.
The gelding was wayward in his past two wins at Sale and Bendigo.
Eustace said Promises Kept was a fairly straight forward horse that did not have to travel far from Eurell’s stable to his new environment after the sale.
“He’s a nice staying galloper. His win at Bendigo suggested that is what he is and certainly to us that is what he appears to be,” Eustace said.
“He had a jump-out last week and jumped out fine and is going to relish going up in trip.
“He’s a really big, rangy horse, and what he will do is improve next year and when he has a break he will furnish, but he’s no oil-painting.”
Promises Kept ($6) sits on the second line of Derby betting behind the lone filly in the race, She’s Fit ($5) while Ain’t He Grand is a $17 chance.
