Ciaron Maher‘s class stayer Circle of Fire lived up to his favourite’s billing, capturing the prestigious Sydney Cup 2024 in a thrilling display of determination.
Circle Of Fire winning the 2024 Sydney Cup on the quick back-up at Randwick over the two miles. Photo: Steve Hart.
Despite a less-than-ideal run throughout the 3200m race, Circle of Fire proved his class with a powerful late surge to secure a two-length victory.
This win held extra significance as Hong Kong-based jockey Andrea Atzeni rode the winner in honour of his late friend, Stefano Cherchi, a young rider who tragically passed away two weeks after a fall in March at Canberra.
Cherchi’s parents were present at Randwick to witness Atzeni’s emotional victory.
“It is definitely for him (Cherchi),” Atzeni said.
“It has been a tough time for his family, and it’s amazing to see them here. They are here because I came.”
Atzeni, who has been splitting his time between Hong Kong and Australia, received a last-minute call to ride in the Sydney Cup delivered a masterful performance.
Aboard the talented four-year-old Circle Of Fire, he skilfully navigated an unorthodox path, forced to race three-wide with minimal cover for most of the race.
Circle of Fire, carrying a light weight of 51.5kg, entered the race as the favourite after a dominant win in the Chairman’s Quality (2600m) last week.
His victory marks the first time since The Offer in 2014 that a horse has achieved the Chairman’s-Sydney Cup double.
“It is unbelievable,” said a jubilant Maher.
“Fitting this week as Andrea was such good mates with Stefano. The horse, he was unbelievable. Andrea, he had to be confident and that was unbelievable.”
Maher praised his entire team for getting Circle of Fire in peak condition for the back-to-back wins.
He also acknowledged Will Bourne’s crucial role in sourcing the talented import.
While the race plan wasn’t strictly followed, Circle of Fire’s exceptional staying power shone through. He surged to the front with 100m remaining, fending off challengers to secure a well-deserved victory.
John O’Shea‘s Athabascan, another son of Almanzor, finished a respectable second, further highlighting the form of the Tancred Stakes.
The winner of that race, Kalapour, trained by Kris Lees, came in third, solidifying the Tancred Stakes form in the Sydney Cup trifecta.
Circle of Fire’s impressive win has him catapulted into early favour for the $8 million Melbourne Cup over the same distance at Flemington in November.
“There’s one other Cup in the spring and they’re very fortunate and lucky owners,” Maher concluded.
2024 Sydney Cup Results
| Finish | No. | Horse | Trainer | Jockey | Margin | Bar. | Weight | Penalty | Starting Price | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 12 | CIRCLE OF FIRE (GB) | Ciaron Maher | Andrea Atzeni | 14 | 51.5kg | $5.50F | |||
| 2 | 10 | ATHABASCAN (FR) | John O’Shea | Tyler Schiller | 2.07L | 11 | 52kg | $6 | ||
| 3 | 7 | KALAPOUR (IRE) | Kris Lees | Dylan Gibbons (a) | 2.59L | 6 | 54kg | $12 | ||
| 4 | 8 | SERPENTINE (IRE) | Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott | Tim Clark | 2.78L | 4 | 53.5kg | 1.5kg | $13 | |
| 5 | 6 | SELINO (GB) | Chris Waller | Tommy Berry | 4.49L | 9 | 54.5kg | $26 | ||
| 6 | 15 | MOSTLY CLOUDY (IRE) | Trent Busuttin & Natalie Young | Ms Rachel King | 5.05L | 13 | 51.5kg | $12 | ||
| 7 | 3 | ASHRUN (FR) | Ciaron Maher | Craig Williams | 5.96L | 12 | 55.5kg | 1.5kg | $8 | |
| 8 | 1 | MILITARY MISSION (IRE) | Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott | Adam Hyeronimus | 8.45L | 16 | 56.5kg | $21 | ||
| 9 | 4 | LOFT (GER) | Ben, Will & JD Hayes | Blake Shinn | 8.51L | 7 | 55.5kg | $51 | ||
| 10 | 9 | AMADE (IRE) | Phillip Stokes | Michael Dee | 9.24L | 5 | 53kg | $9.50 | ||
| 11 | 5 | STOCKMAN (NZ) | Joseph Pride | Reece Jones | 9.45L | 8 | 55kg | $81 | ||
| 12 | 17 | SO DAZZLING (NZ) | John Sargent | Jay Ford | 9.56L | 10 | 51.5kg | $51 | ||
| 13 | 13 | GLENTANEOUS (IRE) | Anthony & Sam Freedman | Ms Jamie Kah | 10.89L | 2 | 51.5kg | $11 | ||
| 14 | 11 | MANZOICE | Chris Waller | Zac Lloyd (a) | 13.82L | 1 | 51.5kg | $17 | ||
| 15 | 14 | MAJOR BEEL (NZ) | Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott | Louis Beuzelin | 20.56L | 3 | 51.5kg | $21 | ||
| 16 | 2 | MAHRAJAAN (USA) | Shaune Ritchie & Colm Murray | Tom Marquand | 33.93L | 15 | 56kg | 2.0kg | $20 | |
Table Credit: Racing Australia.
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