Ciaron Maher will target an invitation to compete against the best steeple chasers in the world with veteran ‘Al Garhood’ in next April’s Nakayama Grand Jump.
He is extremely keen to get to Japan as he fears Al Garhood will be weighted out of the top races next year, after winning the 2010 Grand Annual Steeplechase at Warrnambool.
The 11 year old gelding also won the 2010 Von Doussa Steeplechase at Oakbank and has twice won the Brierly Steeplechase on his home track.
“He hasn’t done all he can here, but he has probably done what they will allow him to do considering the weight he likely to get now”, Maher said.
Al Garhood carried a massive 67kg in the Von Doussa and 66kg in the Grand Annual.
“I’m sure he will get a lot more weight in both those races if we stay home with him next year”, Maher said.
Maher is planning to get Al Garhood fit for Japan with three flat runs in Victoria before the Pegasus Jump on April 9 as a lead up to the $1.75 million Grand Jump nine days later.
Al Garhood has raced 66 times for 13 wins and has earned more than $420,000 prizemoney.
Written by Isaac Chaplin