Ciaron Maher finds positive in horror draw for Ruthless Dame in Golden Eagle

Ciaron Maher is hoping gun mare Ruthless Dame can overcome an “extreme” outside barrier and win the Golden Eagle on Saturday.

Ruthless Dame has drawn the outside in the Golden Eagle. Picture: Racing Photos via Getty Images

Leading trainer Ciaron Maher was amazingly still able to find some silver lining in the horror draw handed to gun mare Ruthless Dame in Saturday’s $10 million Golden Eagle (1500m) at Rosehill Gardens.

Maher and his training partner David Eustace saw their chances in the four-year-old feature event severely dented on Tuesday night when Ruthless Dame drew gate 20 of 20.

It would have many putting a line through their horse’s chances but Maher saw some benefits, albeit with the knowledge his Group 1 talent had a massive challenge ahead.

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“Her three best runs have been from wide gates although 20 is a bit extreme,” Maher said.

“She is better drawn from about seven outwards then drawn inside that.

“She seems to enjoy her races when she travels wide with cover and there is good tempo and not inside horses.”

Ruthless Dame claimed her maiden Group 1 win in the Sangster earlier this year when she jumped from barrier 12 of 14 while she launched from the outside gate in a field of 12 in last Saturday’s Invitation before only narrowly getting beaten by Espiona.

Espiona shows her class in The Invitation!

Despite her quirks @KPMcEvoy is able to steer the @cwallerracing trained mare to victory! pic.twitter.com/dc9BVgSALU

— SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) October 28, 2023

Despite the tough run, she pulled up well from the assignment which paved the way for Maher and Eustace to back her up for big prizemoney seven days later.

“It was always in the back of our minds backing her up,” Maher said.

“We thought she would improve going into the Invitation but backing up, you usually peak them.

“If she did go well in the Invitation then we thought we would be backing her up.”

Ruthless Dame’s draw got slightly better on Thursday when she came into barrier 19 following the scratching of Toorak Handicap winner Attrition.

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Attrition’s trainer Mitch Freedman informed stewards his maiden Group 1 winner had been found to have swelling to the right hock and lameness in that leg which would prevent him from running on the weekend.

Epsom Handicap winner Rediener’s chances of running in the Golden Eagle are also under an injury cloud after it was revealed he has some swelling to the left hind leg with associated lameness.

Meanwhile, Group 1 winner Bella Nipotina will ensure Maher and Eustace have representation in both of the major races on the card in Sydney.

The Pride Of Dubai mare has been racing consistently without winning this preparation with thirds in all three of her starts.

The stable had hoped to secure an Everest berth with Bella Nipotina but after failing to attract a slot-holders attention, she went to the Sydney Stakes last start and rattled home to finish among the placings.

Bella Nipotina is a chance in the Giga Kick Stakes. Picture: George Sal-Racing Photos via Getty Images

“I think her runs have been outstanding,” Maher said.

“She has been very genuine and very consistent. If she can get a shower of rain, she is at least a length better possibly more on a track with give in it.

“She is a bit like Gold Trip, they can run on firm tracks but they are just better on the tracks with a bit of give in it.

“You couldn’t say the firm tracks are unsuitable because she has been running outstanding.

“I think it is the best she has looked this whole prep.

“It’s obviously a tough field but she has been all around it.”

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Craig Williams will continue his association with Bella Nipotina ($12).

Bella Nipotina is in the hunt for a lucrative $1.25 million Sportsbet Sydney Sprint Series Bonus on top of the Giga Kick prize pool if she can run well again on Saturday.

The classy mare sits a point behind The Everest winner Think About It (10 points) heading into the final leg of the series which offers bonuses down to fifth for eligible horses.

A date with the Perth summer carnival could also await Bella Nipotina if all goes to plan this weekend.

Maher was looking forward to new addition Nails Murphy ($4.80) stepping out for his second Australian start in the Canadian Club Benchmark 78 Handicap (1500m) with Ben Melham aboard.

The Sioux Nation gelding travelled to Australia along with a string of international spring contenders at the beginning of the spring and showed promise in his first start for his new trainers, finishing third in a 1400m event at Randwick.

“Nails Murphy‘s first run here was very good,” Maher said.

“He did a bit wrong, he was a bit keen and has come through it well.

“He had form around Chorlton Lane over in England so that's why we followed him up but I thought his run was very good and he should improve.”

While Pioneer River ($6) and How's It Kev ($21) also line up at Rosehill, Maher and Eustace will be in the hunt for a Group 1 treble at Flemington.

The stable have Tiz Invincible and Nadal in the Coolmore Stud Stakes (1200m), To Be Frank in the Victoria Derby (2500m) as well as Jennilala and Pride Of Jenni in the Empire Rose Stakes (1600m).

Originally published as Ciaron Maher finds positive in horror draw for Ruthless Dame in Golden Eagle