Ciaron Maher has dominated the Group 3 JRA Cup at Moonee Valley on Saturday afternoon, with Future History ($3.20) taking out the 2040m contest and four of his five runners finishing in the top four places.
Combining with Mark Zahra, Maher’s six-year-old gelding jumped smartly from barrier two, and he found the front before settling into a rhythm throughout.
Also hailing from the Maher stable, Smokin’ Romans ($5) and Promises Kept ($9.50) settled behind the leader, while Second To Nun ($4.80) landed in the one-one position on a solid tempo.
Zahra increased the speed down the side of the track in response to a move from Ethan Brown on Smokin’ Romans and Jamie Kah on Second To Nun, who pulled out to make their runs.
However, as the leader turned the home corner, he kicked clear of his rivals and held a good margin over Promises Kept, the fast-finishing Kettle Hill ($18), and Smokin’ Romans, who filled the first four in that order.
2024 JRA Cup replay – Future History
Ciaron Maher was on course to speak about the win post-race.
“It was a really good, positive ride by Mark (Zahra). The team has done a good job to come back off a poor run to pick him up again,” Maher said.
“Promises Kept, he’s right back to form. Up to the ten furlongs, Smokey (Future History) was better, and Kettle Hill was sneaking home.
“He came out, he got his ticket into the Cup, and he’s come back he didn’t really come up and prep before, and then he’ s run in the Heatherlie, the Naturalism, up to Sydney in a Group 1, and now he’s winning back here, back at 2000-metres.
“Not much more you can ask for than a winning horse back here in the spring.
“His record of 2000 is pretty good now. So, good positive ride by Mark, and he went forward, went a nice tempo, and then quickened up and made the race his own early.”
Mark Zahra was very happy with the win, and he spoke post-race.
“I had intentions to lead and I said to Ciaron (Maher), ‘what do you think?’ and he said ‘you know what to do, do what you want’,” Zahra said.
“So once I was in front, it was like two laps on the big sand, he had a long rein, never moved on him at all, breathed beautifully, cruising along.
“So I stepped it up a bit early, but wanted him at the top before we straightened, and he won.”
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