Warrnambool trainer Ciaron Maher believes handy galloper Riveted is going better this year as he prepares for another crack at the Banjo Paterson Final via Saturday’s sixth heat at Moonee Valley.
The Hussonet gelding ran fourth to the now-retired Figure Of Speech in last year’s final over 2500m.
The rising six-year-old made it back-to-back Casterton Cups over 2000m on his preferred heavy track before finishing fourth to Euphoric Realm on a dead (5) surface over 1700m at Flemington on June 11 and third to Dark Note on slow (6) going at the Valley.
“At his last two runs he just needed a shower of rain which you normally get at this time of year but unfortunately for him the tracks have been pretty firm,” Maher said.
“He’s probably even going a little better this year than what he was last year.
“He has a stronger constitution this time around, he seems to be coping better.
“He comes home and eats up a lot better and the back up seems to suit him, he does quite well in between.”
Maher has stuck with apprentice Rosie Myers who rode the chestnut at the Valley last start on June 18.
“She rode him quite well last start and she’s a strong rider,” he said.
Myers’ two-kilogram metropolitan allowance will bring Riveted in with 51.kg, 1.5kg below the limit weight.
Myers, 24, who has ridden four city winners since basing herself in Victoria, is on loan to the Patrick Payne stable for three months.
She has ridden more than 200 winners in New Zealand including a Group One success on Midnight Oil in the New Zealand Oaks.
The $150,000 final of the Banjo Paterson Series is run over 2600m this year at Flemington on Saturday week.
There were 32 nominations for Saturday’s 2040m heat in which the topweights with 60kg are the Mick Kent-trained Banana Man and the Robert Smerdon-prepared Light Vision.
AAP TURF