Ciaron Maher plotting another Group 1 Queensland Oaks upset with Amplify

A year after Socks Nation’s shock Queensland Oaks win, trainer Ciaron Maher will try to do it again with a filly that won at Bathurst two starts ago.

Socks Nation 2.0 is about to rock the Group 1 Queensland Oaks.

The mystique of Ciaron Maher went to a new level last year when he conjured a training miracle and masterclass to score the Oaks with $101 bolter Socks Nation.

Few saw it coming, not even Maher’s great mate Tony Gollan who questioned what Socks Nation was even doing in Brisbane when he first saw the travelling filly in his stables.

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Fast forward 12 months and Maher might have another Socks Nation, ready to land a knockout blow and shock punters.

The team of Maher and jockey Ryan Maloney, who stunned everyone with Socks Nation, will combine with Amplify in the Oaks (2200m) at Eagle Farm on Saturday.

Amplify, a $60,000 buy as a weanling and who was sent to country Bathurst to win a race two starts ago, won’t go out $101 but after Tuesday’s barrier draw was a $34 chance.

Maher said there are similarities between Amplify and Socks Nation.

It’s an absolute boil over in the @Channel7 Queensland Oaks 😳

SOCKS NATION stays the strongest to gift @cmaherracing his second Group 1 this Queensland Racing Carnival! 🏆

What a ride @RMaloney_Jockey 👏 pic.twitter.com/vT4KUg4K0b

— RaceQ (@RaceQLD) June 8, 2024

He said a remarkable slice of racing history could be repeated.

“Socks Nation seemed to run fourth in everything she raced in before the Oaks, it didn’t matter what race we ran her in she still ran well,” Maher told Racenet.

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“Socks Nation to be fair probably shouldn’t have been $101, but I wasn’t complaining.

“It was a bit of a roll of dice at the trip but she was a consistent, hearty, sort of filly.

“Amplify is not too dissimilar and you can draw some similarities through their toughness and their demeanour.

“I quite like Amplify.

“The Bathurst run was to give her some confidence and she has done well since then.”

The Ciaron Maher-trained Queensland Oaks hope Amplify (outside) winning her maiden at Wyong in March. Picture: Bradley Photos

Maher said in terms of the shape of the Oaks this year, it wasn’t too different to the previous year when Socks Nation surged to unexpected glory.

David Vandyke’s winning machine Philia and Glen Thompson’s Australasian Oaks winner Benagil are the fancied ones in betting but Maher thinks it’s an open race.

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“The Oaks shapes up similar to last year, there were a couple of shorter ones in the betting market and then the rest of the field,” Maher said.

“I think it is a relatively open Oaks, again.

“It’s all about timing and I think my filly should present well.

“She ran solidly for second in her last start in The Bracelet and that was an indifferent day, the way the track was on the Gold Coast.”

Socks Nation causing a huge boilover in the Queensland Oaks last year. Picture: Trackside Photography

Chris Waller’s filly Belle Detelle, scratched on race morning of last Saturday’s Queensland Derby with a minor foot issue, is set to contest the rescheduled Derby on Saturday rather than the Oaks.

Champion trainer Maher feels jockeys may have been premature to withdraw their services from riding on Group 1 Queensland Derby day last Saturday.

The races were called off after jockeys complained about visibility, leading to both the Derby and the Group 1 Kingsford Smith Cup being rescheduled to this Saturday.

“They (jockeys) are certainly very quick to call them off,” Maher said.

“The track was rained on, but it was fine.

“They ran the Kentucky Derby in mud and the jockeys didn’t seem to have much of a problem seeing what was going on that day.”

Originally published as Ciaron Maher plotting another Group 1 Queensland Oaks upset with Amplify