Ciaron Maher eyes stable milestone as attention turns to Melbourne Cup qualification for emerging stayer Berkshire Breeze

Champion trainer Ciaron Maher has a personal-best season milestone to record as attention turns to Cups qualification for Berkshire Breeze.

Berkshire Breeze in full flight at Flemington. Picture: Picture: Brett Holburt/Racing Photos via Getty Images

Champion trainer Ciaron Maher has a personal-best season milestone to achieve before attention turns to Cups qualification for Berkshire Breeze.

Berkshire Breeze snared Maher’s 102nd Melbourne winner with another emphatic Flemington display last Saturday in the Banjo Paterson Series Final (2600m).

Maher, in partnership with former co-trainer David Eustace at the time, won 104 metropolitan races in the 2021-22 season.

Maher said another century, achieved last Wednesday, and the potential stable record were coveted stable milestones.

READ: Cameron Happ’s horses to follow from Flemington

“You just do your best,” Maher said, crediting staff across multiple stables in Melbourne and Sydney for the continued success.

Maher will collect a fifth consecutive Melbourne trainer’s premiership next month and second Australian title.

The next opportunity to add to his tally of Melbourne winners is on Wednesday at Sandown.

The rise of Berkshire Breeze, a $15 equal third elect for the Melbourne Cup in TAB’s pre-nominations market, has enhanced Maher’s hand for the first Tuesday in November.

Sydney Cup winner Circle Of Fire ($11) is favourite for the Melbourne Cup from international recruit Middle Earth ($13).

BERKSHIRE BREEZE blows them all away with a dominant display in the Banjo Paterson Series Final.

We should see him again at Flemington this Spring in The Archer or Bart Cummings.

📽 @7HorseRacingpic.twitter.com/zPqrT1LreS

— Victoria Racing Club (@FlemingtonVRC) July 6, 2024

Maher expected Berkshire Breeze to race once more before the Cup-qualifying The Archer (2500m) on September 14 at Flemington.

The Bart Cummings (2500m), also at Flemington, is another golden ticket opportunity on October 5.

“He’s got a great set of lungs and a beautiful action,” Maher said.

“He relaxes well, I’d say he’s whatever you want to train him for.”

Maher, who won the 2022 Melbourne Cup with Gold Trip, conceded Berkshire Breeze has a way to go yet to cement Cups ambitions.

“How do you line up the quality? You’re talking about a race (Banjo Paterson) in the winter and (tackling the likes of) your Gold Trips and things like that (in the spring),” Maher said.

“The way he’s doing it (recent wins), he’s doing it quite easy and if he was challenged he looks like he would go again.”

Imported stayer Circle Of Fire has continued to thrive, ticking over at Cranbourne, after a breakout four-start Australian campaign culminated in Group 2 Chairman’s Quality (2600m) and Sydney Cup (3200m) triumphs.

“For a horse to absolutely thrive and peak that early, we haven’t done that (with an import), he’s probably the benchmark horse that went bang,” Maher said.

“He’s the right style of horse (for a Melbourne Cup) … and he’s already in the race.”

Maher saddled five in the Cup last year.

Originally published as Ciaron Maher eyes stable milestone as attention turns to Melbourne Cup qualification for emerging stayer Berkshire Breeze