While Ciaron Maher continues to make his presence felt on the Gold Coast after raising his hand on Wednesday to paying $1.7 million for a colt by Not A Single Doubt, on Saturday two other three-year-old stablemates in Can’t Go Wong and Elzamee has the stable excited about them coming together on the track.
A $1.1 million colt at the 2020 Inglis Easter Yearling Sales, Elzamee comes to Melbourne for the first time having won on debut at Newcastle on 18 December.
Can’t Go Wong wasn’t nearly as expensive when scooped up for $60,000 at the New Zealand Ready To Run Sale in 2020 but so far knocked over his maiden win on debut at Sandown in early December over 1400 metres and followed that with victory over 1600 metres at benchmark 64 level a fortnight later.
Jack Turnbull is steering the Maher-Eustace stable whileCiaron Maher & David Eustace are away doing bigger business on the Gold Coast and preparing favourite Coolangatta for the weekend’s two-year-old feature, and he says that bringing these two colts together for the first time has captured their own interest as both horses step up to 2000 metres for the first time.
“It is hard to split the two,” Turnbull said.
“I spoke to Ciaron this morning and he’s happy with them both.”
“Can’t Go Wong is nice and relaxed and doesn’t give us the feel that he will overdo it.
“He’s very progressive.
Turnbull says that there is “a huge rap” on Elzamee coming from Sydney.
In her maiden win at Newcastle, Elzamee beat Russian Ruble who also placed behind Publicist at Warwick Farm on Wednesday.
While leaning to Can’t Go Wong with the race experience, Turnbull says that the contest is going to be interesting for them.
Can’t Go Wong is posted as the $4.80 favourite in the Twilight Payment Plate (2000m) with Elzamee at $7.
While Coolangatta dominates the headlines for the $5 million Gold Coast feature, two-year-old Jamarra will fly the stable flag down the Flemington straight in the Resimax Rapid Racing Handicap over 1100 metres.
With one in in three starts, Jamarra takes on straight racing for the first time after notched a second placing behind the impressive winner Jacquinot at Caulfield on 26 December.
“He’s come a long way”, Turnbull said.
“He’s bounced through that Caulfield run well and can’t see any reason why he can’t run well again.
“I saw him on Friday and he’s in good health. There’s no reason why he can’t run to expectations.”
Market expectations have Jamarra at $8 on Thursday morning with the $2.40 favourite English Riviera from the Tony and Calvin McEvoy stable.
