Ciaron Maher has confidence Icarian Dream can overcome wide barrier in Magic Millions 2YO Classic
Ciaron Maher remains upbeat after his mum had the unenviable task of drawing the barrier for Icarian Dream in the Magic Millions 2YO Classic and came up with 21.
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Ciaron Maher joked he has no hard feelings against his mum after she drew a car park barrier for Saturday’s Magic Millions 2YO Classic with Icarian Dream, with the champion trainer admitting the outside gate will be made a bit easier if the races are moved to Brisbane.
Eileen Maher was tasked with drawing Icarian Dream’s barrier and came up with 21 of 21 on Tuesday morning, however the master trainer doesn’t have many concerns, saying his filly was up for the fight as one of the most experienced horses in the race.
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With Eagle Farm on standby as a back-up venue should the Gold Coast track not recover from being poisoned last week, Maher said the wide barrier would be more manageable up the highway at the bigger track.
“It is a thankless job, barrier draws,” Ciaron Maher said.
“Mum did what she could, the barrier is the barrier at the end of the day.
“If it’s at the Gold Coast, it will be a bit more difficult.”
Icarian Dream lost her grip on favouritism for the $3m 2YO Classic following the draw, drifting from $4.50 to $7 as punters honed in on Invincible Woman ($5 favourite) and first emergency Space Rider ($7).
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Maher said it was easy to put a pen through horses because of the wider barriers, but said he didn’t subscribe to the theory himself.
“I think barriers are often overplayed, the main thing is that the horse is fit and well and the prep has gone as smooth as it could have,” he said.
“She has had really well spaced runs, everything has gone to plan.
“If she lines up in the order she is right now, she will be right in it.
“She is similar to an (2020 winner) Away Game or (2019 runner up) Dubious, a real two-year-old type who is very strong, very robust who is fairly experienced for a young horse.
“She is battle hardened, she will need to be tough because she’s going to have to work at some point in the race, whether it is at the start, the finish or at both ends.”
TAB spokesman Gerard Daffy said the support for Invincible Woman has gained momentum over the past fortnight.
“You can win from out there, but that’s a major drift in a manner of minutes from $4.50 out to $7 (for Icarian Dream),” Daffy said.
“Invincible Woman has been out of the better backed runners over the past couple of weeks.
“We did put it up briefly at $5.50 following the draw but that has been snapped up and brought into $5.”
If Maher isn’t able to win the race with Icarian Dream, he has another live chance in the form of La Bella Boom, who he retained a share in after selling it as a yearling.
It is trained by his great mate Tony Gollan and is a $9 chance in betting.
Originally published as Ciaron Maher has confidence Icarian Dream can overcome wide barrier in Magic Millions 2YO Classic
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