When in a training partnership with David Eustace, Ciaron Maher had the knack of getting a stayer that had raced through winter to peak for The Bart Cummings at Flemington.
Maher and Eustace won the Group 3 race over 2520m on three occasions in the past four years, with each victor going on to compete in the Melbourne Cup a little over four weeks later.
With Eustace now in Hong Kong, Maher will saddle Interpretation, Saint Georg and Berkshire Breeze on Saturday searching for a ballot exemption into the Melbourne Cup (3200m) at Flemington on November 5, just as Persan (2020), Grand Promenade (2021) and Future History (2023), previous winners of The Bart Cummings, had done previously.
Maher’s assistant-trainer Jack Turnbull said the winter program for Berkshire Breeze was all about qualifying the stayer for the Cup.
The plan had been going smoothly with wins at Flemington on June 8 and July 6 before finishing second on August 3 when forced into the role of leader.
Berkshire Breeze had tried for a ballot exemption in the Group 3 Archer Stakes (2500m) at Flemington on September 14, but a heavy track did not play into his hands.
“His run was solid last start when the ground deteriorated,” Turnbull said.
“We don’t think he loved it, but he still ran OK and drawing two on Saturday, he’s going to get a nice run, hopefully midfield.
“We think he has the talent, and if he can win, then he’s qualified for the big one.”
Another import, Saint George is expected to relish the 2520m on Saturday after looming to win the Group 3 MRC Foundation Cup (2000m) at Caulfield last start.
Turnbull said Saint George may have hit a flat spot that day under Jamie Kah.
“Jamie thought maybe from after the first-up run where he was kept on the bit, he just didn’t have that hit out he required,” Turnbull said.
“We’ve put a tongue tie on him just for breathing. He hasn’t got a wind problem, but she thought maybe he just had his tongue back when she went to ease up on him, so it’s cheap insurance.”
Interpretation is attempting to get into his third Melbourne Cup.
He failed to finish in 2022 before running sixth last year while at his most recent outing, Interpretation beat only one runner home in the Archer Stakes.
“He needs to improve, there’s no denying that and I hope last start was more about the ground,” Turnbull said.
“He’ll be ridden back and hopefully be running on like he did in the Melbourne Cup when he ran his best race, arguably.
“He is a quirky horse and there has been a few times, one being in the Melbourne Cup, where he just put his nose up and said, ‘that’s it, I’ve had enough of this’.
“So, he does a lot of schooling which hopefully will sharpen him up.”