Ciaron Maher is aiming for his fourth victory in the Group 3 Bart Cummings (2520m) in five years, with Interpretation, Saint George, and Berkshire Breeze set to contest the race at Flemington on Saturday.
The trio will be vying for a ballot exemption into the Group 1 Melbourne Cup (3200m) on November 5.
Berkshire Breeze’s path toward Cup qualification has gone well so far, with wins at Flemington on June 8 and July 6, followed by a second-place finish on August 3 after leading the race.
He tried again for a ballot exemption in the Group 1 Archer Stakes (2500m) on September 14 but managed only third on a heavy track.
“Drawing two on Saturday, he’s going to get a nice run, hopefully midfield,” said assistant trainer Jack Turnbull.
“We think he has the talent, and if he can win, he’s qualified for the big one.”
Saint George is expected to thrive over 2520 metres after finishing a strong fourth in the Group 3 MRC Foundation Cup (2000m) at Caulfield last start.
Meanwhile, Interpretation will be trying to secure a spot in his third Melbourne Cup, having finished sixth last year.
“He’s quirky, and there have been a few times where he put his nose up and said, ‘I’ve had enough of this.’ So he does a lot of schooling, which hopefully will sharpen him up,” Turnbull added.
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