The training operation of Ciaron Maher often yields imported runners excelling in winter with superior staying power.
Mukhtalif, bred in Ireland, wasted no time making his mark Down Under by claiming the Robert Taranto Handicap at 1800m on Caulfield’s track this past Saturday, pointing to a rosy outlook in his fresh environment.
With Ben Allen riding as the $4.60 top pick from the layers, Mukhtalif led the way upfront and held on for a two-length triumph over Figlio D’Argento ($5.50), as Merchant Flyer ($11) was a short half-head back in third.
The gelding had previously notched wins at Newmarket and York, before joining new interests comprising the My Racehorse Syndicate and Jack Turnbull, national assistant to Ciaron Maher. The team has no intention of accelerating the gelding’s program immediately, per Turnbull.
Turnbull outlined intentions to exploit the gelding’s light rating as they incrementally raise his competition standard.
“Whilst he’s fresh, I don’t think we’ll have to rush him up in trip,” Turnbull said.
“There’s an 1800-metre race at Flemington, at the end of the month, April 25, so that was our next possible option if we did win here.
“But we’ll see how he is. He’s not slow, he’s just one of those horses you have to be careful how you ride him.
“He was well bought and hopefully he’s our next progressive winter stayer.”
Despite the wide starting position, Allen pressed on to take up the trail of the second-place finisher before striking the front not long after the bend.
“We didn’t think he would be as forward in the run as he was,” Turnbull said.
“He did a fraction of work to get to where he did, but then he relaxed well for Ben thereafter and had a couple of cheap sectionals and then built.
“He’s the type that can build and once he didn’t get caught out on that tempo, he was able to build and was strong through the line.”
Allen observed that Mukhtalif was still keen to extend despite his dominant win.
“When the others caught up over the line he wanted to go again and it took me a while to pull him up,” Allen said.
Visit betting sites to find racing odds for events akin to the Robert Taranto Handicap.
