Ciaron Maher bolstered his formidable Group 1 Melbourne Cup (3200m) prospects with Berkshire Breeze’s victory at Flemington on Saturday.
This win further enhances his standing in Melbourne Cup betting, led by another Group 1-winning stablemate.
Circle Of Fire is progressing well in his training, aiming to give Maher a second win in Australia’s most prestigious race, following Gold Trip’s triumph two years ago with then-partner David Eustace.
The UK import soared to the top of Melbourne Cup betting after his Group 1 Sydney Cup (3200m) victory.
“He came over and, for a horse to absolutely thrive and peak that early, we haven’t seen that (before),” Maher said.
“He’s probably the benchmark for a horse that just went forward,” Maher said, highlighting Circle Of Fire’s exceptional progress.
“He didn’t come in ‘ridden quarantine’ (Werribee in spring) either; he came out in normal quarantine and just thrived.”
Circle Of Fire arrived in Australia with one win and three Listed placings from six UK starts. He finished fourth in Benchmark races at his first two Australian starts before winning the Group 2 Chairman’s Quality (2600m) a week prior to his Sydney Cup triumph.
Currently, he leads the Melbourne Cup betting at $11, followed by soon-to-be-stablemate Middle Earth at $13, with Berkshire Breeze on the $15 third line after his impressive Banjo Paterson Series Final (2600m) win on Saturday.
Maher has yet to finalize a path to the Melbourne Cup for Circle Of Fire, considering a run in the Group 1 Caulfield Cup (2400m) as an option.
“We’re not that naïve to think that he’s too good to run in a Caulfield Cup,” Maher said.
“If he won it, I’d say ‘well done,’ so he might go through a Caulfield Cup.”
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