Flemington’s Australian Cup Prelude trails behind the day’s prominent fixtures in significance, though it might spotlight contenders for greater achievements later on.
In Saturday’s 2000m showdown, Ciaron Maher intends to debut two gallopers from abroad – Augustus and Desert Hero.
Having already raced locally, Desert Hero journeyed from the UK with William Haggas to contest last year’s Sydney Autumn Carnival.
In comparison, the German-bred Augustus was last victorious at Hamburg in the middle of last year and is co-owned by Australian Bloodstock, who previously sourced Melbourne Cup winners Protectionist and Gold Trip to Australia.
Maher commented that Augustus somewhat resembles Gold Trip, securing his debut Melbourne Cup win in 2022.
“He flicks his action a little bit like Gold Trip,” Maher said.
“He’s got good, strong formlines coming across.
We opted not to bring him out in quarantine. We opted to give him a break and let him furnish and he’s certainly done that.
I think he’s come up super.”
Augustus prepared via a jump-out and 1500m trial ahead of his Saturday reappearance, partnered by Mark Zahra.
“Mark rode him the other day at Caulfield (Heath) and he liked what he felt,” Maher said.
“I think Flemington will suit, a big, open galloping track. I think he will be a horse we will see more of in these better staying races.”
Augustus faces a limited autumn program under Maher before spring pursuits such as the Caulfield Cup and Melbourne Cup pair.
“He’ll probably have a couple of runs and whether he goes to Queensland, we’ll work that out with the Australian Bloodstock boys, but he’s impressed me with what I’ve seen,” Maher said.
Post his April Randwick start, Desert Hero showed once more, fourth in Caulfield Heath’s 1500m trial with Augustus second.
Maher revealed Desert Hero received an extended holiday after Sydney, spending time in New Zealand.
“He’s got a good solid base. He prepped up over in New Zealand,” Maher said.
“He had a long break, which I think he needed and he’s come up well also.
He’s been out of form for a little while, so he needs to find form, but looking at the way he is, he should hit the line well also.”
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