A win in the MRC Foundation Cup for Saint George would be an important stepping stone for his future spring aspirations.
Saint George runs in the Group 3 race over 2000m on Saturday needing to secure a win to then gain a ballot exemption for the Group 1 Caulfield Cup (2400m) on October 19.
The Ciaron Maher-trained galloper is entered in both the Caulfield Cup, and Melbourne Cup (3200m) at Flemington on November 5, for which he has 50kg in both races.
Saint George is yet to pass the first ballot clause into the Caulfield Cup while he sits at number 64 in the ballot order for the Melbourne Cup.
Maher’s assistant trainer Jack Turnbull said Saint George had been purchased with the dream of winning the Melbourne Cup.
Saint George will be lining up for just his eighth start on Saturday, and second in Australia.
At his only Australian outing, Saint George finished eighth behind Rise At Dawn in the Listed Heatherlie Stakes (1700m) at Caulfield on August 31.
“He didn’t have a lot of luck at his first start, but we were very happy with the way he went to the line,” Turnbull said.
“His main aim and the reason he was purchased was for the Melbourne Cup, but first we have to qualify him, and the MRC Foundation Cup will be step forward in being able to do that.”
Turnbull said Saint George was a nimble galloper, very relaxed with a good action.
“He’s sensible, he’s light on his feet. He’s got a smooth and very big action and everyone that rides say what a nice ride he is,” Turnbull said.
“It’s a trait Gold Trip had, Circle Of Fire has, and he’s got in spades.”
Stablemate Okita Soushi will also line up in the MRC Foundation Cup, his second start for the Maher stable.
Okita Soushi ran 11th in the Melbourne Cup last year for Joseph O’Brien before joining Maher.
Turnbull said Okita Soushi was an out-and-out stayer.
“He has amazing aerobic capacity,” Turnbull said.
“We do a lot of treadmill work with them, and you give them a pretty hard gallop.
“A lot of our local horse lactate through the roof and have a slower recovery, but this bloke he will do it in one breath, walk off without raising a sweat.”
Also joining Saint George and Okita Soushi in the MRC Foundation Cup from the Maher stable will be Le Don De Vie, Pennyweka and Future History.
