At Flemington, the Australian Cup Prelude pales in comparison to the preceding highlights of the day, but it offers a chance to identify prospects for upcoming major prizes.
Ciaron Maher readies two overseas imports for the 2000m Saturday feature – Augustus and Desert Hero.
Desert Hero tasted Australian racing before, shipped from the UK by William Haggas to join last year’s Sydney Autumn Carnival.
Differently, Augustus from Germany claimed a Hamburg win mid-last year as his latest start, now part-owned by Australian Bloodstock, bringers of past Melbourne Cup heroes Protectionist and Gold Trip.
Maher observed similarities between Augustus and Gold Trip, his breakthrough Melbourne Cup winner from 2022.
“He flicks his action a little bit like Gold Trip,” Maher said.
“He’s got good, strong formlines coming across.
We opted not to bring him out in quarantine. We opted to give him a break and let him furnish and he’s certainly done that.
I think he’s come up super.”
With a jump-out and 1500m trial under his belt, Augustus returns Saturday under Mark Zahra.
“Mark rode him the other day at Caulfield (Heath) and he liked what he felt,” Maher said.
“I think Flemington will suit, a big, open galloping track. I think he will be a horse we will see more of in these better staying races.”
Maher plans a quick autumn hit-out for Augustus en route to spring ambitions like the Caulfield Cup and Melbourne Cup.
“He’ll probably have a couple of runs and whether he goes to Queensland, we’ll work that out with the Australian Bloodstock boys, but he’s impressed me with what I’ve seen,” Maher said.
Desert Hero managed one appearance since Randwick in April, ending fourth in the Caulfield Heath 1500m trial ahead of Augustus in second place.
After Sydney, Maher opted for a long spell for Desert Hero, including preparation in New Zealand.
“He’s got a good solid base. He prepped up over in New Zealand,” Maher said.
“He had a long break, which I think he needed and he’s come up well also.
He’s been out of form for a little while, so he needs to find form, but looking at the way he is, he should hit the line well also.”
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