Despite winter still being around the corner, the Ciaron Maher stable will unleash two key imports with spring potential at Sandown this Saturday in the $150,000 Sportsbet Race Replays Handicap (1800m).
Sammarco, a German Group 1 winner, and Sayedaty Sadaty, a Caulfield Cup runner from last spring, are both looking to use Saturday’s race as a launch pad for longer-range targets.
Sammarco will be making his Australian debut. The six-year-old, bred in Ireland and by Camelot, was a top-level winner in Germany, claiming both the German Derby (2400m) and Grosser Dallmayr-Preis (2000m). Assistant trainer Jack Turnbull said he’s taken time to settle but is now ready to get back to the races.
“We gave him a prep last year, but decided to wait as he wasn’t quite there,” Turnbull explained. “The 1800m is well short of his best, so he’ll likely settle at the rear and look to be running on late.”
“The aim is to build through winter, targeting races like the Banjo Paterson Series to bring him to peak fitness for spring. He’ll probably race every four to five weeks to mirror that European style.”
Sammarco has completed two Cranbourne jumpouts over 1200m and 1400m in preparation. In an interesting twist, he’ll meet a familiar rival in Tempesti—now with Matt Cumani—who defeated him in a Group 3 in Milan last November.
Sammarco carries 59.5kg on Saturday, second only to Arran Bay (60.5kg), while Sayedaty Sadaty will carry the 53kg minimum. Jamie Melham rides Sayedaty Sadaty ($8.50), while John Allen is booked for Sammarco ($16).
Sayedaty Sadaty, by Anodin, was third-last in last year’s Caulfield Cup and ran second-last at Flemington earlier this year, but the Maher camp remains optimistic.
“He’s very well handicapped for the level of form he’s shown,” Turnbull said. “He ran fifth behind City Of Troy in the Derby, and 1800m is his minimum trip. He’s got some early speed though, so it’ll be interesting to see where he lands in the run.”
Both horses hold futures in mind for the spring and could offer value through Australia’s top betting sites in futures markets depending on how Saturday unfolds.
