While the Ciaron Maher stable has three runners entered in the Melbourne Cup qualifier at Flemington, it is expected only two will take their place.
Sayedaty Sadaty and Jennivamoose will head to the Group 3 The Archer (2500m) on Saturday, a race that provides the winner a ballot exemption into the Group 1 Melbourne Cup (3200m) at Flemington on November 7.
The Archer is one of 10 races that provides the winner a ‘win and you’re in’ ticket into the Melbourne Cup.
Already the Roy Higgins, the Andrew Ramsden, the Belmont Gold Cup and the Ebor Handicap have been run while following Saturday’s The Archer, races to come are the Bart Cummings, the Caulfield Cup, the Geelong Cup, the Moonee Valley Gold Cup and the Cox Plate.
Both Sayedaty Sadaty and Jennivamoose enter Saturday’s race in good form and Maher has been waiting for the right time to produce Sayedaty Sadaty over the 2500m journey.
After back-to-back Caulfield and Flemington victories, Sayedaty Sadaty was a last start third behind Reckless Voyager over 2040m at Moonee Valley on August 9.
“I reckon he should be pretty spot on for it,” Maher said.
“I wanted to give him the break going into it. He was good at The Valley the other day, but they went a bit quick and Relentless Voyager came from behind him which showed they went a bit quick.
“He’s been crying out for the 2500 metres, but I’ve just waited for this race.”
Jennivamoose won’t be lacking in fitness and enters Saturday’s contest coming off back-to-back wins over 2500m at Moonee Valley and her past two starts.
She was successful in a benchmark 78 grade race before rising to a Quality Handicap carrying 54kg when successful on August 23.
Maher said Jennivamoose had gained confidence from those victories.
“Her two runs have been obviously very good and she seems very genuine and building through the line,” Maher said.
“I don’t think the track will matter, but it is a bit of a step-up for her, but she is a horse full of confidence, and she will be on the minimum.”
The third of Maher’s entries is former Group 1 Turnbull Stakes winner Smokin’ Romans, but Maher indicated he is likely to be saved for the Group 1 Underwood Stakes (1800m) at Caulfield on Saturday week.
Smokin’ Romans split The Archer nominations Revelare and Mormona in a 2000m handicap at Caulfield on August 30 at his most recent outing.
“He ran close to a peak, very close to it, last time,” Maher said.
“It was a very good run. Even Benny (Melham) said that if he gave him a bit more of a squeeze earlier in the race, he might have got there.”
