Trainer Ciaron Maher says star galloper Another Wil has tightened up nicely ahead of his second-up run in Saturday’s Group 1 Sir Rupert Clarke Stakes (1400m) at Caulfield.
The gelding finished runner-up in the Sir Rupert Clarke last year and will carry the topweight of 59kg this time around. The handicap returns to its traditional September slot after several years on the November calendar.
Another Wil resumed in the Group 1 Memsie Stakes (1400m) on August 30 when sixth to Treasurethe Moment, a performance Maher admitted left him short of peak fitness. But after a searching Caulfield gallop on Tuesday with Jamie Kah aboard, the trainer is confident he is ready to fire.
“His last two pieces of work have been very good,” Maher said. “Jamie knows him well and she was really positive after his last gallop. She said it felt ‘more like it’. He’s come on nicely and strips fitter now.”
Maher noted Another Wil’s excellent record at Caulfield over 1400m, highlighted by his Group 1 C F Orr Stakes win earlier this year. Even so, he is wary of the opposition, particularly the lightly weighted Angel Capital from Chris Waller’s yard, who impressed in trackwork on Tuesday and gets in with just 53.5kg under Damian Lane.
“He’s got a fair bit of weight, but he’s improved, and he’ll need to,” Maher said. “It’s shaping up as a strong race, but I’m confident he’s in good order.”
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