Ciaron Maher is set to strengthen his tilt at the Melbourne Cup, aiming to snare a ballot exemption with one of four runners at Flemington.
Saturday’s Bart Cummings (2500m) is the final Flemington ‘win and you’re in’ pathway into the Melbourne Cup (3200m) on November 4, with further opportunities via the Geelong Cup (2400m) on October 22 and the Moonee Valley Gold Cup (2500m) two days later for those still vying to make the field.
Maher’s quartet comprises the imported stayers Berkshire Breeze, Interpretation, Sayedaty Sadaty and Gilded Water.
Gilded Water booked a start on Saturday after a Benchmark 84 win over 2000m at Caulfield on September 20 and now presses for Cup credentials representing King Charles III.
Heading into his third run this preparation, the gelding has pleased Maher’s National Assistant Trainer, Jack Turnbull.
“He is third up at the trip, but he’s got a huge aerobic capacity,” Turnbull said.
“He’s done the work as he’s been in work a long time.”
Turnbull explained Gilded Water’s prep began with a schooling phase under Julien Welsh to sharpen his manners at the gates.
“He was really nervous, tense, so he did a lot of gate work before coming over to us,” Turnbull said.
“It was not about fitness then, but he was active for a while.”
“His main aim is the Melbourne Cup, so obviously Saturday is a win and you’re in, and if he does, it makes it a bit easier choosing the races we want from then on,” Turnbull said.
While Gilded Water is the headline act for the stable in the Bart Cummings, Turnbull cautioned that the stablemates warrant respect.
Berkshire Breeze, he noted, performed admirably chasing Half Yours in the Naturalism Stakes (2000m) at Caulfield on September 20.
“He’s on the up. We thought he was really good and it’s a good opportunity for him to get into the Cup,” Turnbull said.
Sayedaty Sadaty was ridden out of his comfort zone when third in The Archer (2500m) at Flemington on September 13.
“They went very sedate, and it backfired on us,” Turnbull said.
“At the time you think it’s good, but he’s not a horse that you can rip up and do a ‘six home two’. He needs to build, so for him to be dynamic, it’s about timing and we had it too cute in front last time.”
Interpretation chases a fourth appearance in the great race and continues to please the yard.
“He’s raced in three Melbourne Cups and he’s in similar condition to what he has been in in the last couple of years,” Turnbull said.
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