A hard-fought win at Mornington has provided Ciaron Maher’s Kings Valley with a guaranteed start in the Caulfield Cup via ballot exemption.

Victory in Saturday’s Listed Mornington Cup offers the ‘Golden Ticket’ entry to October’s Group 1 Caulfield Cup (2400m).

This latest win represents Maher’s second in the Mornington Cup, building on Right You Are’s 2023 success that led to a fifth placing in the Caulfield Cup some six months later.

Kings Valley ($6.50), guided by Lachlan Neindorf, edged out Pounding ($10) by a head, as Suntora ($10) ended up 1-¼ lengths further adrift in third.

According to Jack Turnbull, National Assistant Trainer for Maher’s team, the Saturday result could be pivotal in Kings Valley’s development.

“He didn’t go about it as you would like,” Turnbull said.

“He was on and off the bridle, but he had an economical run and got the right splits when he needed to.

“We’ve been trying to get to 2400 metres, but he’s been a fierce horse to train and race, so we worked the horse down into the race today and it’s worked out really well.

“Credit to the horse as I think he will go to the next level over this trip because he’s not slow with good change up speed.”

Securing the ‘Golden Ticket’ to the Caulfield Cup prompts the group to consider the most suitable strategy for advancing Kings Valley to the prestige event.

He indicated indecision between Maher potentially wrapping up the campaign or continuing to polish the stayer’s competitive demeanor.

“We always wanted to get to this stage before having to think about that,” Turnbull said.

“We are in a really good position now.”

Rising in his saddle after the winning line, Neindorf conveyed that this achievement outweighed his dual Group 1 successes in his native South Australia.

“This might sound outrageous, but it probably means more to me winning one of these than any of my Group 1’s,” Neindorf said.

“Just for the simple fact when I first came over as an apprentice, I lived in Mornington and then when I went back (to Adelaide) I had to build myself from the ground up and it felt like I was trying to build a skyscraper.

“I’ve come back a second time and based myself in Mornington again and this is now more so home than home in Adelaide.

“It means a lot to win this Cup today.”

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