Ciaron Maher travels far and wide to keep track of stable hopes

Ciaron Maher will rack up plenty of frequent flyer points to keep track of his runners in three states, including two chances in the Winterbottom Stakes at Ascot and the favourite in the Jericho Cup.

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Ciaron Maher’s versatility as a trainer will be tested to the limits this weekend with two year olds running in Melbourne and Sydney, a Group 1 sprinter in Perth and an eight-year-old gelding in the country’s longest race on Saturday.

After spending the later part of the week in Sydney, Maher flew to Perth on Friday to watch Dubious and Spirit Of Valour run in Saturday’s Group 1 Winterbottom Stakes.

He intends to catch the red-eye home on Sunday morning, then head to Warrnambool to watch the 4600m Jericho Cup, where the Maher and David Eustace stable has the favourite, Ablaze.

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Dubious will take on the older horses in the Winterbottom Stakes. Picture: AAP

Maher believes Dubious has the talent to be a factor in the Winterbottom Stakes. He said the three-year-old colt’s spring campaign was hampered by wet tracks.

Maher said before the Manikato Stakes, Dubious worked with and matched stablemate Loving Gaby, who won the race.

“The plan was to run him in the Manikato Stakes but the weather forecast suggested armageddon was coming so we didn’t run and then the rain didn’t come,” he said.

Maher then focused on the Winterbottom Stakes knowing that a firm track would be assured.

“He’s performed well at Group 1 level before and I think he’s that standard of horse,” he said.

Craig Williams will ride Dubious and he’s aiming to win his fifth Group 1 for the season.

“Trekking is the one to beat but we weren’t that far away from him in Brisbane in the winter,” Maher said.

Maher is hoping that a change of environment might bring out the best in Spirit Of Valor.

Maher’s day will kick-off with The Big Easy and Flinders River in the opening two-year-old race at The Valley, while the stable has sent Muntaseera to run in the opener at Rosehill.

Trainer Ciaron Maher has a busy weekend coming up with runners in Sydney, Melbourne and Perth. Picture: AAP

Maher said they had a good opinion of The Big Easy, who debuts at The Valley, and they were setting him for the Magic Millions Classic.

Ablaze was bought by Nature Strip’s owner Rod Lyons with plans to run at the Warrnambool May carnival, but instead he’s in action at the Jericho Cup.

“He’s been a revelation since we’ve got him as he was a shaggy South Island galloper when he came over,” Maher said. “He’s got a bit of weight, but if we’d run him on the flat instead of the hurdles, I think he’d have even more.”

Tomita ready for lane change

Michael Manley

The impact of Damian Lane’s successful stint in Japan rolled into the spring carnival, but it hasn’t finished yet as Lane was the catalyst for apprentice Akatsuki Tomita to head to Melbourne.

Lane won the Caulfield Cup on Mer De Glace and Cox Plate on Lys Gracieux, both horses he rode in Japan, then helped persuade connections to come to Melbourne. The champion jockey also convinced Tomita to ride for the Mat Ellerton and Simon Zahra stable.

On Saturday the 22-year-old ­apprentice will ride at his first Saturday city meeting — on veteran Thermal ­Current in the 1000m open handicap.

Tomita came for a three-month stint, but it has been ­extended to six months.

Damian Lane convinced apprentice Akatsuki Tomita to head to Melbourne for a stint with Matt Ellerton and Simon Zahra. Picture: AAP

Zahra said it had been a win for the stable already because of Tomita’s work ethic, but it also welcomed his 1.5kg claim.

“We always thought summer would be the time he’d come to the fore where we can put him on our higher-weighted horses,” Zahra said. “Probably the worst thing for him was winning his first race here when he rode on too long a rein. He’s started to ride in the Australian style.

“He’s a hardworking kid and he’s here every day helping out from first thing in the morning.”

Zahra said he couldn’t think of a better horse for Tomita in his first city race than nine-year-old Thermal Current.

“We gave him a ride last Friday at the Valley to have a look at the track,” Zahra said. “In reality Thermal Current will take him around.”

Tomita has ridden seven winners in Victoria. He has won 57 races in Japan.

Originally published as Ciaron Maher travels far and wide to keep track of stable hopes