Trainer Ciaron Maher and the ownership group of Another Wil are hoping to achieve a confidence-building win at Caulfield.
Rather than competing in the lucrative Group 1 Memsie Stakes (1400m) this Saturday, Another Wil is set to run in the Evergreen Turf Handicap over the same distance.
It has been more than 18 months since Another Wil last tasted victory, which was in the Group 1 C F Orr Stakes (1400m) at Caulfield. This win was one of nine from his 21 starts, including three victories from six appearances over the course and distance.
Maher commented that horses, similar to most athletes, gain confidence from winning, and he is seeking this outcome on Saturday.
“They thrive off it,” Maher said. “That would be ideal and there’s a nice program that he can go back to at Group 1 level and hopefully he can do what we think he can do.”
There has been an ongoing expectation that Another Wil is of Group 1 standard, with a glimpse of this capability shown during the Brisbane winter carnival.
After finding the 1200m too short in the Doomben 10,000 when resuming, Another Wil subsequently finished fourth in the Kingsford Smith Cup (1300m) before running last in the Stradbroke Handicap (1400m) at Eagle Farm in June.
The 2kg claim from the in-form apprentice Jabez Johnstone was also a significant factor in Maher’s choice for Saturday’s race.
“His first two runs were good in Queensland, his third one was not as good on the wet track,” Maher noted. “He’s in very good order, has come up well and I just thought that 1400-metre benchmark 100, with a good record at the trip and at Caulfield and Jabez can claim off him as well. He’ll get in with 60 kilos, and he would be pretty well handicapped off that.”
Maher indicated that after Saturday’s race, the plan is to return to a higher level of competition, with numerous options available for the gelding.
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