With a Group 1 triumph already recorded, Observer approaches his top-tier reappearance this Saturday at Flemington with some lingering aspirations unfulfilled.
Ciaron Maher’s charge, the colt, seeks to claim the $1 million Australian Guineas to pair with his Victoria Derby score from the prior spring at that circuit.
The Ghaiyyath-sired runner confirmed his prowess at 2500 metres against contemporaries via the Derby, emerging previously from the Caulfield Guineas with bad luck, and Maher anticipates a 1600m Group 1 addition to his achievements.
“I think he showed there that he’s good enough to win at that level over that trip,” Maher said of his Caulfield Guineas run, when beaten 2-1/2 lengths by Autumn Boy.
“I hope he can do it for him and his future.
“You would think he’ll only better at Flemington, just with the style he races and the set-up of the track.
“He was good first-up, but he’d be much better at the mile and beyond.”
Observer has notched victories in his three races after the Caulfield Guineas, including the Derby after an impressive success in the Moonee Valley Vase (2040m), and he opened this prep with a solid pace-setting win in the Autumn Stakes (1400m).
Maher passed on that 1400m test for the 2021 Victoria Derby-Australian Guineas hero Hitotsu, and regards Observer’s run on February 7 there as proof of his advancing maturity.
“With Hitotsu, we were very confident to go in fresh at the mile, but with this horse, I wanted to give him a run,” Maher said.
“He’s a different style of horse, he’s a bit more relaxed this time around. He went from the Norton (bit) back to the normal bridle last start, so he is maturing as he goes and is getting stronger.”
Ethan Brown, Observer’s Caulfield Guineas pilot, substituted for the hurt Mark Zahra in the Autumn Stakes saddle and retains the role in the Guineas.
For the Australian Guineas, Observer sits as the $2.40 market leader over Sixties, prepared by Chris Waller and fresh off the C S Hayes Stakes (1400m) win, at $3 in behind.
Visit Australian betting sites to find racing odds for the Australian Guineas.
