Ciaron Maher will attempt to boost his representation in the Melbourne Cup by chasing a ballot exemption with one of four contenders at Flemington this weekend.
The Bart Cummings (2500m) on Saturday serves as the final ‘win and you’re in’ event at Flemington for the Melbourne Cup (3200m) on November 4. Opportunities remain later in the month through the Geelong Cup (2400m) on October 22 and the Moonee Valley Gold Cup (2500m) two days afterward, providing late chances for hopefuls to gain entry into the race that stops the nation.
Maher will line up imported stayers Berkshire Breeze, Interpretation, Sayedaty Sadaty, and Gilded Water in Saturday’s feature.
Gilded Water booked his place after a benchmark 84 victory over 2000m at Caulfield on September 20, and is now pressing for a start in the Melbourne Cup on behalf of King Charles III.
This will be the gelding’s third run this preparation, with Maher’s National Assistant Trainer Jack Turnbull confident he is ready for the step up.
“He is third up at the trip, but he’s got a huge aerobic capacity,” Turnbull said.
“He’s done the work as he’s been in work a long time.”
Although he has raced sparingly this campaign, Turnbull noted that Gilded Water has been in training for an extended period, beginning with barrier practice under Julien Welsh.
“He was really nervous, tense, so he did a lot of gate work before coming over to us,” Turnbull said.
“It was not about fitness then, but he was active for a while.”
“His main aim is the Melbourne Cup, so obviously Saturday is a win and you’re in, and if he does, it makes it a bit easier choosing the races we want from then on,” Turnbull said.
Although Gilded Water shapes as the stable’s strongest prospect in the Bart Cummings, Turnbull warned that their other runners also warrant respect.
Berkshire Breeze comes into the race off a solid performance behind Half Yours in the Naturalism Stakes (2000m) at Caulfield.
“He’s on the up. We thought he was really good and it’s a good opportunity for him to get into the Cup,” Turnbull said.
Sayedaty Sadaty was taken out of his usual pattern when third in The Archer (2500m) at Flemington on September 13.
“They went very sedate, and it backfired on us,” Turnbull said.
“At the time you think it’s good, but he’s not a horse that you can rip up and do a ‘six home two’. He needs to build, so for him to be dynamic, it’s about timing and we had it too cute in front last time.”
Interpretation, meanwhile, is aiming for his fourth appearance in the Melbourne Cup.
“He’s raced in three Melbourne Cups and he’s in similar condition to what he has been in in the last couple of years,” Turnbull said.
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