The path of a racehorse is seldom a simple calculation, a fact that punters who supported Custom in her most recent run can readily confirm.
The Godolphin-owned four-year-old, under the care of Ciaron Maher, was sent off as an odds-on favourite at Caulfield Heath for her latest appearance on August 8.
This strong market backing was a consequence of a commanding three-length victory at Caulfield over 1200 metres on July 25, which followed a respectable first-up second over the same 1200-metre trip four weeks earlier.
The Maher stable learned valuable lessons from Custom’s recent defeat and have implemented strategies to avoid a repeat of bringing her back to the races too soon.
Custom is scheduled to return to competition this Saturday, targeting the Group 3 Courtza Stakes (1200m) at Caulfield, a return to black-type racing.
The daughter of Street Boss has previously achieved placings at Listed level and finished just outside the top four at Group 3 company as a three-year-old.
Maher is fully aware that Saturday’s race is a step up in class, but he believes Custom has matured into a stronger mare and deserves this opportunity.
The trainer utilised a visit to Caulfield on Tuesday morning for a gallop, an exercise that provided Maher with the confidence to commit to Saturday’s Group 3 event.
“She worked well and she is a nice horse,” Maher stated.
“It was a bit disappointing last time, but she ran a huge peak second-up and then running her back two weeks (later), it can be, off a peak, hard to do.
“She didn’t get the smoothest flow in running, but she’s at that level and it is worth a shot.”
Maher has secured the services of Ethan Brown, recently back from a stint in Hong Kong, to ride Custom on Saturday, replacing apprentice Jabez Johnstone in the non-claiming race.
The Maher stable also has Salty Pearl entered for Saturday’s program.
Salty Pearl is first-up on Saturday, having previously finished third in the Group 1 Vinery Stud Stakes (2000m) at Rosehill and fifth behind Panova in the Group 1 Australasian Oaks (2000m) at Morphettville in April.
Get the latest racing odds from top Australian betting sites for the Courtza Stakes.