Maher confident in strong Missile Stakes showing from Steel City

Steel City
Steel City in full flight as she takes out the 2023 Group 3 Magic Night Stakes at Rosehill.

Champion trainer Ciaron Maher has decided to equip Steel City with blinkers, hoping to boost her chances in what he views as a winnable Group 2 Missile Stakes (1200m) at Randwick on Saturday.

The four-year-old daughter of Merchant Navy has only one victory from ten starts, a notable win in last year’s Group 3 Magic Night Stakes (1200m).

This season, her best performance came last month when she finished fourth, just over three lengths behind the winner, in an 1100-metre handicap at Caulfield.

“She’s improved every start, and I’ve put the shades on. I think she will improve again,” Maher told Racing NSW.

“It’s not the strongest edition of the Missile, and we’ve got the fitness edge on our side.

“With blinkers, she’ll need to find a couple of lengths, and I think she will.

“A top-three chance is certainly what we’re aiming for.”

2024 Missile Stakes Final Field

No. Silks Horse Trainer Jockey Barrier Weight
1 Silks
Loch Eagle
Kris Lees
Dylan Gibbons
7
57.5kg
2 Silks
Semillion
Michael, Wayne & John Hawkes
Tommy Berry
9
56.5kg
3 Silks
Schwarz
John O’Shea & Tom Charlton
James McDonald
11
56.5kg
4 Silks
Banju
Lyle Chandler
Reece Jones
3
56kg
5 Silks
Ka Bling
Peter Snowden
Tyler Schiller
5
56kg
6 Silks
Much Much Better
Sara Ryan
Zac Lloyd
8
56kg
7 Silks
The Face
Tony Ball
Jay Ford
1
56kg
8 Silks
Steel City
Ciaron Maher
Tim Clark
6
54.5kg
9 Silks
Arctic Glamour
Gerald Ryan & Sterling Alexiou
Kerrin McEvoy
4
54kg
10 Silks
Shezanalister
Bjorn Baker
Jason Collett
2
54kg
11 Silks
Junqueira
John O’Shea & Tom Charlton
Regan Bayliss
10
54kg

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