Flemington: Ciaron Maher has big plans for Crystal Bound

Trainer Ciaron Maher believes Crystal Bound is a high-quality filly following her return win at Flemington and she could be on the fast track to a Group 1 tilt.

Crystal Bound finishes strongly to win at Flemington. Picture: Getty Images

Ciaron Maher has declared “the sky is the limit” for untapped filly Crystal Bound, who added the Listed Cap D’Antibes Stakes (1100m) at Flemington to a short but impressive record.

The three-year-old daughter of Not A Single Doubt sat behind the speed and raced ungenerously at times but packed a punch late to reel in Dosh and then hold out plucky $21 outsider Flying Evelyn.

“She’s a very high quality filly, she’s got that beautiful big action,” Maher said.

“We took her to The Valley off one trial and she obviously was very impressive the first time out.

“So we took a similar path this time around.

“She’s still a bit wintry in the coat and that will really bring her on.”

Crystal Bound, who won by six lengths on debut at The Valley earlier in the year before a narrow second at Group 2 level in Sydney behind Jamaea, will be aimed toward the Group 2 Danehill Stakes next month.

The filly tightened further with TAB in the Group 1 Manikato betting also, going from $15 to $11.

Maher and co-trainer David Eustace won the 2019 Manikato Stakes with then star three-year-old Loving Gaby.

“She’s not quite as obvious as Loving Gaby but she did have an impressive two-year-old year from only a limited number of outings,” Maher said.

“So the sky's the limit for her.

“She’s still got to come on in the coat and she’s in for a great prep.

“She’s still quite raw and off the bit there. Her quality kicked in late.”

RANCH HANDS PUNTERS ANOTHER BLOW

The Chris Waller-trained Ranch Hand did nothing for the moods of favourite backers when he bloused Godolphin colt Ingratiating in the Listed Poseidone Stakes (1100m).

Ingratiating started as a $2 favourite but Ranch Hand ($14) surged late under in-form jockey to get home by a head.

To be fair to the winner, Ranch Hand would have been most unlucky had Prebble not steered him through a gap late in the race.

“He had plenty of excuses to get beaten and he won. He deserved it,” Prebble said.

Ranch Hand was scratched from the Run To The Rose in Sydney to tackle the Poseidon Stakes.

Ranch Hand moved from $101 to $26 in TAB’s Caulfield Guineas market after his win.

Ranch Hand nabs Ingratiating on the line. Picture: Getty Images

GUINEAS ON MR MOZART’S SHEET MUSIC

Punters that took the short odds on Artorius probably won’t care but Mr Mozart was a significant mover in Caulfield Guineas betting after his win in the Listed Exford Plate (1400m).

Mr Mozart ($14) kept finding in the straight to hold out the $1.60 favourite Artorius to give Hawkes Racing its second win in the last four editions of the $160,000 race.

TAB reacted to Mr Mozart’s win by cutting his Caulfield Guineas quote from $101 to $26.

Co-trainer Wayne Hawkes said he has thought Mr Mozart was a Caulfield Guineas type for some time.

“I told dear old dad that he’s a Caulfield Guineas horse, Mr Mozart, when he worked about three weeks ago so that is looking pretty good,” Hawkes, who trains Mr Mozart in partnership with his father John and brother Michael, said.

Mr Mozart (right) holds off Artorius and Hilal in the Exford Plate. Picture: Getty Images

Originally published as Flemington: Ciaron Maher has big plans for Crystal Bound