Warwick Farm preview: Ciaron Maher’s in-form gelding Kiribati has a hat-trick in his sights

Since being gelded, the Ciaron Maher-trained Kiribati has delivered on his potential with two smart provincial wins and ready to claim the hat-trick at Warwick Farm.

Kiribati is looking to make it three from three this campaign when he steps out at Warwick Farm. Picture: Bradley Photos

Kiribati has always shown trainer Ciaron Maher and his team plenty of ability at home but he just wasn’t taking his A-game to the races consistently.

The son of Capitalist was gelded after his eighth at Newcastle back in February and sent for a spell.

This preparation, Kiribati has returned in sizzling form with two smart wins at Hawkesbury and Kembla and is ready to step up to city grade as he chases a hat-trick in the Microphone @ Darley Handicap (1000m).

“He has come back very well this time in. He has found two fairly soft races and won both quite well,” said Johan Gerard-Dubord, Maher’s Sydney assistant trainer.

“He has been gelded since his last preparation and that combined with those two wins has really boosted his confidence.

“He has always shown us something but he just didn’t always take to the races what we saw at home.

“He is full of confidence now and we see that in the way he walks around at the stables.

“While he is winning, we don’t know his limits and hopefully he can keep the winning run going.

“The good thing with him, first-up he won on a wet track and second-up he won on a dry track which shows he is fairly versatile which is a big plus.

“We couldn’t be happier with him.”

The heavily backed Kiribati gets his first career win!@AshMorgan6 in the saddle for @cmaherracing. pic.twitter.com/xvL2ohx2hR

— SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) June 5, 2023

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Kiribati opened second elect at $4 behind Lost at $3.20 with TAB Fixed Odds for this race, in which he has drawn barrier 1 with apprentice Benjamin Osmond to ride.

Stablemate Qatars Choice was heavily backed to make a winning start to her career at Randwick last Saturday but was a late scratching with the downgrade in track condition.

Maher has the two-year-old filly in the Schweppes Plate (1100m) but the track condition will again be a determining factor whether she runs or is saved for another day.

“She is a filly we have always had a lot of time for,” Gerard-Dubord said.

“Her first ever trial was probably her best one and that day, it was the driest track she has found.

“She is a typical I Am Invincible with a beautiful action but the drier the better for her.

“We have trialled her on wet track and she did go well but she is definitely better on top of the ground.

“She is a horse we think is worth waiting for and just being patient.”

Lovely 2nd trial of a new prep for this unraced 2YO.

Qatars Choice (2f I Am Invincible x Fenway)
$950k buy for @cmaherracing & @dredvers from @ArrowfieldStud at @inglis_sales Easter.

Half-sister to G3 winner Williamsburg out of a G1 [e-mail]/A6labZQ6zZ

— Breednet (@BreednetNews) July 1, 2024

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Flying Chevrolet may be at double figure odds for the Castelvecchio At Arrowfield Handicap (1600m) but Gerard-Dubord feels the filly will be very competitive.

The daughter of Flying Artie has placed just once in five starts but has shown handy ability and continues to improve after two runs back this preparation.

“Her first run last preparation was very good. She was ridden a little too aggressively and worked hard most of the way and was just beaten late,” he said.

“From there she was racing a bit keenly and doing a few things wrong. She has come back a lot more mature mentally and if anything, she has gone the other way. She is very casual this time in.

“First-up was a bit plain but we put the blinkers on second-up and it was a big improvement.

“She is fit and I give her a good chance in this grade.”

The stable’s fourth entrant is Motcombs in the TAB Plate (1100m) – but the filly could also be saved for another day after drawing awkwardly in barrier 9.

“This is a nice race for her and ideally, we would love to give her a chance to win at two (year-old) which this is the last chance so that will come in to play too,” he said.

Originally published as Warwick Farm preview: Ciaron Maher’s in-form gelding Kiribati has a hat-trick in his sights