After celebrating Australian Cup success last weekend, Ciaron Maher is setting his sights on another 2000-metre feature this Saturday at Caulfield.
Following his victory with Light Infantry Man in the Australian Cup, Victoria’s top trainer is gearing up for a strong showing in the Group 3 Easter Cup, where he is set to saddle multiple contenders.
Future History and Night Endeavour are locked in as confirmed runners, while Normandy Bridge and Port Philip have also been nominated for the $200,000 contest.
Maher’s assistant trainer, Jack Turnbull, revealed that Future History was initially aimed at the Australian Cup, but a reevaluation was made after the gelding placed seventh in the Group 2 Blamey Stakes (1600m) and finished fifth in the Group 2 Peter Young Stakes (1800m).
“Initially, the Australian Cup was his plan, but we just thought last start he really didn’t do enough to warrant going there, especially given what was going to go there,” Turnbull said.
“He can run there and then go to the Mornington Cup if we want to go to 2400, otherwise we can head up to Sydney and run through there.”
Meanwhile, imported galloper Night Endeavour is returning to the track for the first time since an underwhelming run at Sandown on February 1, where he was well-supported in betting. However, Turnbull noted that confidence in the gelding has been boosted following a 1400m jumpout second placing at Cranbourne on March 17.
“He’s coming back off a freshen, he was never out of work, but he went to Ballarat and had a change of scenery where he was on a grass paddock but still ticking over,” Turnbull said.
“He’s had a nice little jumpout and a couple of gallops, so he’ll head to the Easter Cup.”
Maher’s runners are among 25 nominations for the Easter Cup, with promising three-year-old filly Cilacap also featuring in the entries.
The Easter Cup is one of two $200,000 Group 3 events on the Caulfield program, alongside the 1400m Victoria Handicap. That race has attracted a competitive field, including former Caulfield Guineas winner Golden Mile, as well as Chorlton Lane, Jennilala, Miss Aria, Regal Zeus, Roll On High, and Superazi.