The stable of Ciaron Maher seeks validation by developing Observer into a Group 1 mile-winning colt.

This Godolphin-owned three-year-old triumphed in the Group 1 Victoria Derby (2500m) last spring, prompting trainer and owner to pursue a Group 1 conquest at 1600m for the colt.

Maher achieved similar feats with Hitotsu, returning the Derby winner to snag the Group 1 Australian Guineas (1600m) at Flemington in 2021-22, and the team now eyes that target with Observer.

While Hitotsu won the Guineas fresh, Maher will start Observer’s autumn path via the Group 2 Autumn Stakes (1400m) this Saturday at Caulfield, en route to the Group 1 Australian Guineas (1600m) at Flemington on February 28.

“He’s come back, had a couple of jump-outs and looks to be in good form,” Maher’s National Assistant Trainer Jack Turnbull said.

“Interestingly, his jump-outs have been quicker than the two he had last prep.

“We’re trialling against better horses being a Group 1 winner and the tracker has been providing us with some good data.

“We trialled him over a half-mile in his first one to get him chasing and in his second one he had Browny (Ethan Brown) on, and he said he was OK.

“It gives us confidence to run him over 1400 (metres) and that will give him three weeks into the Guineas.

“He’s not quick enough to win first-up at 1200 metres, 1400 metres is OK, and second-up at a mile should be ideal.”

Observer endured bad luck finishing third to Autumn Boy in the Group 1 Caulfield Guineas in October, then rebounded with wins in the Moonee Valley Vase and Victoria Derby in successive outings.

Turnbull mentioned Observer’s heightened sense of duty in workouts now, leading to the choice of lugging bit over norton bit for the upcoming race.

“Off that Derby prep, he’s not quite as fierce and hopefully, he’s grown up a bit,” Turnbull said.

“We’re going to run him in just a lugging bit, rather than the norton bit, which would suggest he’s matured a bit and hopefully he continues on that pathway to being a racehorse.

“Our aim this preparation is to be a mile winning Group 1 colt to add that to his CV.

“If he could win the Australian Guineas, we could look to go to Sydney for the Rosehill Guineas, but we’re very much a two-race program for now, and after the Guineas we can reassess after discussions with Godolphin.”

For those interested in the Autumn Stakes action, the racing betting markets offer plenty of options on Observer’s performance.

The post Derby winner kicks off at Caulfield first appeared on Just Horse Racing.