Champion trainer Ciaron Maher wasn’t at Royal Ascot but his horses stole the show. Middle Earth, a contender for the Caulfield Cup and Melbourne Cup, impressed with a third-place finish in the Hardwicke Stakes.
“He was a little bit slow into gear and they only went a moderate tempo and he closed off really well,” Maher said.
“We’ll just work out where he is in terms of handicapping, but we’re very excited to get him out here. I’d say the Caulfield and Melbourne Cups would be the go.”
Maher also has his sights set on two-year-old Pentle Bay, who ran well in the Chesham Stakes.
“I was just going to see where the Caulfield Guineas sat with him, obviously it’s tough to do early in the season being a Northern Hemisphere two-year-old, three-year-old,”
“He’s obviously got some ability, he’s bred to get over ground and you wouldn’t think a New Bay should be doing what he’s doing. He’s got plenty of options.”
Both horses are predicted to make a big impact in the Australian spring racing season.