Trainer Ciaron Maher chasing a belated Chrissie present at Caulfield Heath on Thursday

Mrs Chrissie could deliver Ciaron Maher and connections a belated Christmas present on Boxing Day at Caulfield Heath – a valuable stakes victory.

Mrs Chrissie wins at Ballarat on December 7. Picture: Brett Holburt / Racing Photos

Mrs Chrissie could deliver Ciaron Maher and connections a belated Christmas present on Boxing Day at Caulfield Heath – a valuable stakes victory.

The stakes-placed six-year-old mare has continued to thrive since a dominant first-up win at Ballarat a fortnight ago.

A convenient festive season sprint program has afforded Maher the opportunity to separate Mrs Chrissie, fancied in the Listed Christmas Stakes (1100m) on Thursday, and the speedy Pharari.

Pharari has been aimed at the Listed Black Pearl (1200m) on January 4 at Geelong.

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“Chrissie is more effective at 1100m and Pharari 1200m,” national assistant trainer Jack Turnbull said.

“Really happy with her (Mrs Chrissie), it’s a nice race for her.

“Chrissie is right for 1100m, that’s her perfect trip.”

Mrs Chrissie placed in the Group 3 Sir John Monash Stakes (1100m) at Caulfield last winter and then finished fourth in the Group 3 Bletchingly Stakes (1200m) two weeks later.

The six-year-old mare has won four of 10 starts at 1100m and placed twice.

A stakes win on Thursday would be just reward for consistency.

“She’s stakes placed but if she’s a winner for Chris (Doak) her breeder and for us, we train the sister, Grassburn, it’s important for any mare that can win a stakes race,” Turnbull said.

“If she was to win Thursday there’s a couple options in Adelaide for her (next year), I wouldn’t think she goes all the way through to the autumn, unless she really improved.

“She’s a really good chance of winning some of those off peak Group 3 and Listed races and pending form we might give her a chance at something stronger.”

Mrs Chrissie is too strong around the outside & does it comfortably for her sixth career win 😤@[e-mail]/CNggYYOstf

— Racing.com (@Racing) December 7, 2024

Maher has won the Christmas Stakes twice previously with All Too Royal (2019) and Marabi (2021).

Turnbull said Mrs Chrissie, who has calmed down a lot with maturity, would handle the hot conditions on Thursday.

“12 months ago I would’ve said that (temperature) would’ve been bad, she would’ve melted, but this time around she’s much better.”

Maher also has Flash Flood trying to hand the stable a hat-trick of Listed Lord Stakes (1700m) wins after Nugget (2022) and Zennzella (2023) saluted previously.

Flash Flood has finished midfield in the Kilmore and Werribee cups the past two starts.

The seven-year-old gelding has, however, won and placed in two runs on the Caulfield course proper including a narrow defeat in the Listed Heatherlie Stakes (1700m) last year.

“He’s mixed his form, he actually ran OK in the Werribee Cup, the start before (Kilmore Cup) he was troubled with a lot of bad luck,” Turnbull said.

“His form wouldn’t read it but he’s actually going pretty well.

“He’s a tricky horse in terms of his handicap, there isn’t a lot of options to go to with him, he’s there to run well, there’s no reason not to run him and if he ran in the top three we would not be surprised.”