Ciaron Maher enjoyed a perfect result in the Group 3 Naturalism Stakes (2000m) as Zahrann and Saint George, both leading Caulfield Cup contenders, achieved their qualifying objectives by finishing first and second respectively.
Zahrann, the commanding $3.20 favourite with Ethan Brown in the saddle, maintained a one-length advantage over stablemate and second selection Saint George ($3.60), with Asterix ($26) securing third place by a half-neck.
The Naturalism Stakes, a race previously won by the now-retired Half Yours who went on to complete the Caulfield Cup-Melbourne Cup double, offers a coveted ballot-free entry into the Caulfield Cup. This exemption was essential for Zahrann, while Saint George needed to finish in the top three to satisfy the ballot conditions.
Despite the qualification criteria, the pair were already firming in the Caulfield Cup betting. Zahrann now stands as the $6 favourite, with Saint George at $8, and Maher expressed his satisfaction with their performance and future prospects.
“I think that qualifies them both today so fantastic,” Maher declared.
“I think George is already in, he just needed to qualify so can’t thank Ozzie (Kheir) and the whole team enough. They’ve had to be patient with Saint George and Zahrann is just a very, very good horse.
“Ozzie was very upbeat when he was able to purchase him.
“I actually spent some time with Johnny Murtaugh, who was his former trainer when I was on holidays this year. He gave me a pretty good rundown of him.
“They’re always better their second preparation and he’s going to get into the cup on a beautiful weight.”
Zahrann is allocated 52.5kg for the Caulfield Cup, although a penalty for his Naturalism Stakes victory is a possibility. Saint George will carry 53.5kg, a weight that jockey Ethan Brown concedes would be a test, but he views the horse as an exciting prospect.
“He gets you excited, that’s for sure,” Brown stated.
“It’s what you get out of bed for in the morning. Ozzie (Kheir) rang me before he got here and said he had a good one and said I had to get on to Ciaron to have to ride it.
“He was primed today, he had a lovely run in transit. I had to trust the horse as I knew he had the turn of foot and he proved that today.”
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