Ciaron Maher’s operation aims to demonstrate capability by molding Observer into a mile Group 1 champion colt.
The Godolphin-owned three-year-old dominated the Group 1 Victoria Derby (2500m) in the spring, leaving trainer and owner determined to secure a Group 1 at 1600m on his resume.
Having orchestrated Hitotsu’s path from Derby win to Group 1 Australian Guineas (1600m) success at Flemington in 2021-22, Maher has the stable locked onto that mile prize with Observer.
Hitotsu captured the Guineas on first-up duty, but for Observer, Maher will initiate the autumn with the Group 2 Autumn Stakes (1400m) at Caulfield Saturday, building toward the Group 1 Australian Guineas (1600m) at Flemington February 28.
“He’s come back, had a couple of jump-outs and looks to be in good form,” Maher’s National Assistant Trainer Jack Turnbull said.
“Interestingly, his jump-outs have been quicker than the two he had last prep.
“We’re trialling against better horses being a Group 1 winner and the tracker has been providing us with some good data.
“We trialled him over a half-mile in his first one to get him chasing and in his second one he had Browny (Ethan Brown) on, and he said he was OK.
“It gives us confidence to run him over 1400 (metres) and that will give him three weeks into the Guineas.
“He’s not quick enough to win first-up at 1200 metres, 1400 metres is OK, and second-up at a mile should be ideal.”
In the Group 1 Caulfield Guineas last October, Observer ran an unlucky third behind Autumn Boy, then stormed to victory in the Moonee Valley Vase and Victoria Derby weeks apart.
Turnbull observed that the colt shows more accountability in training presently, influencing the decision to employ the milder lugging bit rather than norton for Saturday.
“Off that Derby prep, he’s not quite as fierce and hopefully, he’s grown up a bit,” Turnbull said.
“We’re going to run him in just a lugging bit, rather than the norton bit, which would suggest he’s matured a bit and hopefully he continues on that pathway to being a racehorse.
“Our aim this preparation is to be a mile winning Group 1 colt to add that to his CV.
“If he could win the Australian Guineas, we could look to go to Sydney for the Rosehill Guineas, but we’re very much a two-race program for now, and after the Guineas we can reassess after discussions with Godolphin.”
Betting enthusiasts should review the betting markets for the race to find value in Observer for the Caulfield Autumn Stakes.
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