Ciaron Maher all smiles after mum picks perfect gate for Dubious in Magic Millions
Ciaron Maher’s mum Eileen stole the show at Surfer’s Paradise Beach, delivering their colt Dubious the perfect gate for Saturday’s Magic Millions 2YO Classic.
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CIARON Maher’s mum Eileen stole the show at Surfer’s Paradise Beach on Tuesday, delivering their colt Dubious the perfect gate for Saturday’s Magic Millions 2YO Classic.
Eileen is a part-owner of Dubious and was chosen to select the barrier draw. She took what seemed an eternity before plucking number seven, as several of the other big chances drew poorly.
She was then called to the microphone by compere Hamish McLachlan and given a rousing ovation as she departed the stage.
We caught up with @cmaherracing & his mum Eileen, part-owner of @AquisFarm colt #Dubious, after the @mmsnippets 2YO Classic barrier draw pic.twitter.com/wtepUbCLer
— Aquis Farm (@AquisFarm) January 8, 2019
Maher said he was not surprised his mum made such a huge impression.
“I’m just seeing if you can actually look through these little blocks they had because she stared at them for that long, I’m sure she must have been seeing something through the other side,” he said. “If you draw poorly here, it just wrecks your whole day. So it was great. I’m very happy.”
Dubious races in the colours of Aquis Farm, but is one of seven final acceptors eligible for the Racing Women’s bonus and this is the first horse he has put his mum into.
It’s back to where it all started in Queensland for Maher.
I told mum we wanted barrier 1-8 and she obliged! Looking forward to Saturday’s @mmsnippets 2YO Classic with Dubious. pic.twitter.com/fwuhIHCqtr
— Ciaron Maher Racing (@cmaherracing) January 8, 2019
It was on the Gold Coast where he had his first winner in this part of the world, with Srikandi winning the 2014 Silk Stocking and he’s been a consistent visitor ever since, winning the Stradbroke, Derby and Tatt’s Tiara in Queensland.
“Queensland has been a great hunting ground for the stable and for the owners and connections,” he said. “It’s just really good to have a live chance in this race, especially for mum and the other owners, and also for Aquis — they are big supporters of Queensland racing, especially at the Gold Coast.”
Dubious won the Breeders’ Plate in late September and Maher immediately aimed him at the Magic Millions. He warmed up with a tough win over 1000m at Eagle Farm and Maher said he’s done everything right since that day.
“It’s been a very targeted campaign,” he said. “We wanted to get him up here early and condition him to the heat. He’s quite experienced. He’s galloped at a lot of racetracks all over the country and hopefully that experience can hold him in good stead for Saturday.
“We left a little bit in the tank going 1000m to 1200m, he’s had a couple of gallops on the course proper to familiarise himself with the track. His recovery was very quick (Tuesday) morning and we will just freshen him up now into the race.
“The horse is in good order and the prep has gone very smooth.”
$2m MAGIC MILLIONS 2YO CLASSIC
Gold Coast, Saturday
1 UNITE AND CONQUER G Waterhouse & A Bott A Hyeronimus (18) 57kg
2 THE ODYSSEY K Schweida J Orman (2) 57kg
3 YES YES YES D Weir M Zahra (21) 57kg
4 DUBIOUS C Maher & D Eustace M Walker (7) 57kg
5 SEBRAKATE D & B Hayes & T Dabernig R Bayliss (4) 57kg
6 HIGHTAIL P & P Snowden H Bowman (19) 57kg
7 CZARSON G Waterhouse & A Bott T Clark (15) 57kg
8 EXHILARATES J Cummings K McEvoy (9) 55kg
9 BETAIMA T Edmonds J Lloyd (17) 55kg
10 CHAMPAGNE BOOM D & B Hayes & T Dabernig C Williams (3) 55kg
11 BETTER REFLECTION J Wigginton N Seymour (4) 55kg
12 GIRLS ARE READY J Cleary Ms J Taylor (10) 55kg
13 COURSESHEWILL L Birchley M McGillivray (1) 55kg
14 MOVIE ROLE D & B Hayes & T Dabernig J McDonald (13) 55kg
15 OH FIVE GLORY P & W Hulbert T Marshall (6) 55kg
16 CHAMPAGNE JET T Edmonds T Berry (11) 55kg
17e GALA MISS K Schweida M Du Plessis (16) 55kg
18e KRAMERIC Chris Waller — (5) 57kg
19e ROME P & P Snowden B Prebble (8) 57kg
20e ALBURQ Michael Moroney — (20) 57kg
21e LUBUK Chris Waller — (12) 57kg
Originally published as Ciaron Maher all smiles after mum picks perfect gate for Dubious in Magic Millions
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