The Grahame Begg-trained Maharba ($19.00) has fended off the late challenge of Rey Magnerio ($4.80) to claim victory in the Group 3 Rising Fast Stakes (1200m) at Flemington on Saturday afternoon.
The four-year-old gelding was excellent first-up against the pattern of the day at Caulfield on October 12, getting within 1.8 lengths of Bellatrix Star in the Group 2 Schillaci Stakes (1100m).
The son of Pride Of Dubai was friendless with horse racing bookmakers on Saturday, however, drifting from $10.00 to $19.00 at the jump, with all the money coming for the John O’Shea & Tom Charlton-trained Schwarz ($3.80) prior to start time.
Jordan Childs was able to lob into the ideal stalking position throughout the journey, with Jungle Jim ($41.00) and Star Patrol ($11.00) leading them out at a solid tempo in the middle stages.
Schwarz was all out at the clocktower when asked the ultimate question by James McDonald, while Maharba, Rey Magnerio and Charm Stone ($13.00) extended clear to fight out the finish, with the Childs throwing Maharba over the line to finish best of the trio.
2024 Group 3 Rising Fast Stakes Replay – Maharba
Grahame Begg was over the moon with the victory and didn’t rule out a trip to Western Australia for the Group 1 Winterbottom Stakes (1200m).
“He’s a very tough horse and he races very well up the straight,” said Begg.
“He’s come back very good this time round. He ran third first-up in a Group Two at weight-for-age and he’s more of a handicapped style of horse.
“He’s going particularly well and he’s a very honest horse with a great record.
“He puts in every time he goes to the races and Darryl Towzell and Maz up there in Wagga, they ll be over the moon. It’ll be a big night in Wagga tonight, as it normally is, I must say.
“He’s entered for Perth, the Winterbottom over there, and also they’ve got that slot race at Cranbourne (The Meteorite), which certainly is on the radar.”
Jordan Childs was happy with the victory and suggested the track is in superb order for Derby Day.
“I think the track is in really good order and it feels nice and even,” said Childs.
“We drew low over the straight so my hand was sort of forced. Had to go to the inside a little bit.
“But I think it is racing even (the track) and it doesn’t really matter where you are.
“I sort of built through my gears and I was probably making the same run as the second horse and he (Maharba) was in front for a long way but he managed to hold on.”
Maharba is currently a $18.00 chance with horse racing bookmakers for the 2024 Winterbottom Stakes on November 30.
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