The Ciaron Maher stable has a strong hand in the $3 million Big Dance at Randwick, even if the barrier draw has thrown up some potential challenges for a couple of well-credentialled stablemates.
Maher has three runners in Tuesday’s 1600m race, with Gringotts and Detonator Jack both drawing wide while Vivy Air has a single digit barrier in the capacity field of 20 plus four emergencies.
Despite coming up with the second outside draw, Gringotts is challenging for favouritism at $5 along with Here To Shock and Tavi Time, while Detonator Jack is $13 with online betting sites.
Maher’s Sydney stable representative Johann Gerard-Dubord said the race had been a long-range target for both Gringotts and Detonator Jack, who earned their spots in the race with wins in the Tamworth Cup and The Gong respectively.
“Detonator Jack won The Gong almost a year ago and Gringotts went to Tamworth (in April) to qualify and since then it’s been the target,” Gerard-Dubord said.
“That’s why Gringotts was lightly raced last preparation, just trying to look after his rating.
“His first two runs this preparation have been terrific. We couldn’t be happier with him.
“He is peaking for Tuesday and couldn’t be any more confident until the barriers came out.”
Jockey Tommy Berry has the job of plotting the right course on Gringotts from the wide gate.
“We need some luck but the horse couldn’t be going any better,” Gerard-Dubord said.
“He’s flying. So any kind of luck and he’ll be very hard to beat.”
After three wins from as many starts last preparation, Gringotts has finished a close second in both the Bill Ritchie Handicap and the Alan Brown Stakes this campaign.
Detonator Jack was beaten just over a length by Fangirl two starts ago when fourth in the 7 Stakes at Randwick before failing to beat a runner home in the Group 1 Epsom Handicap.
“We couldn’t have been happier with him in his first two runs this preparation,” Gerard-Dubord said of Detonator Jack.
“Last start was obviously disappointing but he got a bit of a bump in the run and found himself a long way back and wide. He just dropped the bridle and lost interest.
“He’s come through that well and we’ve been happy with him since.
“If he can bounce back to his first two runs of the preparation, again with a bit of luck from the barrier, he’s right in it.”
Vivy Air is the longest-priced of the Maher trio, having booked her place in the race with a second in the Big Dance Wild Card on October 19 at Randwick.
“Her run in the Wild Card two weeks ago was great,” Gerard-Dubord said.
“I think she’s still improving, but she has to.
“She’s the one of the three that has drawn well.
“On that last run she’s definitely some kind of chance.”