Maher Hoping For Success At Oakbank
- Friday, 02 April 2010 04:45
Ciaron Maher isn't looking beyond Saturday's Oakbank meeting for stable newcomer Art Success who will make his jumping debut in the Woodford Reserve Restricted Hurdle.
The 2006 Group One Brisbane Cup (3200m) winner when prepared by Jon Collins, Art Success has pleased Maher in his jumps trials leading up to Oakbank, winning two of three including a six-length win over stablemate Satu San over 2200m at Oakbank on Monday.
"He jumps really cleanly and seemed to handle the track okay. The Restricted Hurdle on Saturday looks a nice race for him," he said.
"Pentacolo had his measure (in a trial) at Hamilton but he certainly trialled well on Monday.
"He obviously has the flat ability. He jumps well and you can see in his flat form that he can pop up when no one expects him to.
"He won a Brisbane Cup and he did it again later winning the (2008) Grafton Cup.
"He hasn't shown much interest on the flat for me but he seems to really like jumping. He really attacks his jumps and he's pretty sharp at them."
Steven Pateman will ride Art Success in the 10-horse field on Saturday and Maher will also saddle up topweight Marc Of Thunder (Brad McLean) and Satu San (Gavin Bedggood) for the 2900m event.
The Warrnambool trainer said Satu San would back up in Monday's Yalumba Classic Hurdle (3600m) and Marc Of Thunder would probably do the same but he would wait and see with Art Success.
"He's a chance to (back up) but Saturday is his aim at the moment," he said.
Maher has a strong hand in the Von Doussa Steeplechase (3250m) with last year's Great Eastern Steeple winner Pentacolo (Brad McLean) and dual Brierly Steeple winner Al Garhood (Craig Durden).
Maher hasn't ruled out trying for back-to-back Great Eastern Steeple wins with Pentacolo but a decision won't be made until he runs in Saturday's Von Doussa Steeple at Oakbank.
Pentacolo pleased Maher with his length win over stablemate Al Garhood in a 3200m steeple trial at Oakbank on Monday.
"I want him to peak for Warrnambool so I'll just see," Maher said.
The Pentire seven-year-old is topweight with 68kg in the Great Eastern (4950m), a race he carried 64kg in last year.
"If it's an ordinary field we might be swayed," Maher said.
Maher's main goal for Pentacolo is the $145,000 Grand Annual Steeple (5500m) at Warrnambool on May 6, a race he finished fourth in behind Sir Pentire last year.
Zabeel 10-year-old Al Garhood, runner-up in the 2009 Grand Annual, is not engaged in the Great Eastern.
The Von Doussa field is a strong one with the John Wheeler-trained Yamanaura (Brett Scott) and the Eric Musgrove-trained Wheel The Lead (Adam Trinder), last year's winner, equal topweights with Pentacolo on 68kg.
Picture: Jenny Barnes
