Cox Plate-winning trainer Ciaron Maher will kick off a massive week at Flemington with a strong attack on the Group One Coolmore Stud Stakes.
Maher and co-trainer David Eustace have nominated colts Anders and Holyfield, and also filly Muntaseera for Saturday’s stallion-making race.
Leading sires including Zoustar and Brazen Beau have both won the race prior to forging successful careers at stud.
Maher said Anders had recovered from a brutal three-horse race when he finished third in the Blue Sapphire Stakes.
On that occasion, Anders started a $1.35 favourite but finished last of the three horses, albeit he was less than a half-length from the winner Ranting.
“He came out of it with heat stress but the three of them all came out of it with some sort of stress,” Maher said.
Maher said while all the signs were good that Anders had recovered from the race, he would continue to monitor him during the week before he committed to running him.
Maher is also happy with three-year-old filly Muntaseera who has been racing consistently
“I’ll just have to see Anders and make sure that he gallops well and everything is tickety boo. Then he can line up as well,” Maher said.
“I think Muntaseera is spot-on. She’s going in fresh.”
TAB fixed odds futures betting has Anders as a $7 chance for the Coolmore Stud Stakes (1200m) with Farnan and September Run equal favourites at $5.
Prior to the Caulfield run, Anders had won his previous two starts in Sydney by a combined total of more than eight lengths.
Maher said he was hoping for a wet track for Anders.
The stable will also have Let’s Karaka Deel in the Victoria Derby.
At his last start, the colt finished second to Albarado over 2000m at Caulfield and Maher said he was hard-fit for Saturday’s classic.
“He seems pretty good. He’s a raw type of three-year-old. He’s quite scopey and doesn’t carry a lot,” Maher said.
The stable will head to the Flemington carnival in top form after claiming a double at Moonee Valley on Saturday, highlighted by a first Cox Plate victory with import Sir Dragonet.
