Why Ciaron Maher’s improving import is the Man for the job against Via Sistina in 2025 Queen Elizabeth Stakes at Royal Randwick

Trainer Ciaron Maher has been rewarded for his patience with expensive import Light Infantry Man, who faces his biggest test against Via Sistina in Saturday’s Group 1 Queen Elizabeth Stakes at Royal Randwick.

If patience is the cheapest thing in racing, as legendary Bart Cummings quipped, buying a European import to target the Cox Plate would be among the more expensive.

Australian Cup winner Light Infantry Man, set to duel with reigning Cox Plate champion Via Sistina on Saturday at Randwick in the Group 1 Queen Elizabeth Stakes (2000m), certainly ticks both scenarios.

Time has been critical in the redevelopment of Ciaron Maher-trained Light Infantry Man, a multiple Group 1 winner in Australia.

Assistant trainer Jack Turnbull said the process to help Light Infantry Man rediscover his best made recent wins all the more enjoyable.

Light Infantry Man, who raced against the best in Europe and placed at the highest level, arrived in Australia a colt but had to be gelded, not an easy decision for a hefty seven-figure investment.

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The talented weight-for-age star, “a bit iffy in the gates” previously, then spent time with highly-regarded horse educator Julien Welsh.

Light Infantry Man justified the process last spring, with victory in the Listed Chester Manifold Stakes at Flemington, and trained on to claim a deserved Group 1 Northerly Stakes success in Perth.

The lightly-raced six-year-old has gone on with the job, raced well in the Group 1 Futurity Stakes in February after a short break before he loomed ominously for third in the Group 1 All-Star Mile.

He appreciated a genuine tempo and swept to victory in the Australian Cup last start.

LIGHT INFANTRY MAN wins the @tabcomau Australian Cup for @cmaherracing and @Brown_ethan8 🏆

🎥 @Racing#AusCup#RacingSpectacularpic.twitter.com/eV3bCo7s9n

— Victoria Racing Club (@FlemingtonVRC) March 29, 2025

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Light Infantry Man, a $3.8m earner, has banked $2.5m for connections the past four starts alone.

“He was expensive and what he was doing in Europe was very good but he hadn’t recaptured that until really the Northerly and then Australian Cup,” Turnbull said.

“He was bought for a Cox Plate and they paid the price for that, he wasn’t cheap, but he is a cheap horse now, albeit 18 months on.

“He’s still a young gelding and the fact now he’s proven at weight-for-age conditions, he gets 2000m, naturally you’re looking at a Cox Plate in the spring and races such as that, so it’s pretty exciting.”

Durbridge (1994) is the last of five horses to complete the Australian Cup-Queen Elizabeth double in the same year from 23 starters.

Two of the past three Queen Elizabeth winners, Pride Of Jenni (2024) and Think About It (2022), were runners-up in their respective Australian Cups.

Via Sistina is a $1.70 all-in market favourite for Saturday from Dubai Honour ($5), Ceolwulf ($9) and Light Infantry Man ($15).

Light Infantry Man wins the Northerly! @Brown_ethan8 produces a positive ride from the wide barrier and it proves the difference! @[e-mail]/ybjr6tgpCf

— SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) December 7, 2024

• Queen Elizabeth Stakes win would put Via Sistina ‘in the Hall Of Fame conversation’

“We’re very much looking forward to it,” Turnbull said.

“He’s just kept building since last spring and we’re really happy with him.

“To run third in the All-Star Mile was something because he wouldn’t have done that 12 months ago, and he’s obviously continued that (won the Australian Cup).”

Light Infantry Man and Via Sistina (Ranvet Stakes) produced similar ratings in respective last start wins.

Form analyst Dan O’Sullivan, of The Rating Bureau, rated Light Infantry Man 105 last start – up on a previous Australian best of 101 – and he all but matched a 105.2 career peak achieved in France.

Via Sistina returned a 104.5 rating in the Ranvet.

Despite comparable figures, Turnbull conceded Via Sistina remained the weight-for-age benchmark.

“She’s elite. I’d say off what he ran, it puts him near her,” Turnbull said.

“If he improved then happy days but the form she’s in I guess everyone would be hopeful she underperforms slightly.”

Originally published as Why Ciaron Maher’s improving import is the Man for the job against Via Sistina in 2025 Queen Elizabeth Stakes at Royal Randwick