Image: Bradley Photos
Ciaron Maher has added to the depth of his young stocks with an aptly named winner at Randwick.
Improving filly Ciaron’s Star has moved closer to a place in the Golden Slipper after a tough win in the Pierro Plate (1100m) at Randwick, although connections are keen to see her reaffirm that form before making a start in the $5 million feature.
Taking a prominent position under Tommy Berry, Ciaron’s Star ($5.50) accelerated decisively in the straight to beat Better By Far ($5.50) by three-quarters of a length, with Persian Wonder ($14) a further 1-1/4 lengths away in third.
Jo Gerard-Dubord, assistant to trainer Ciaron Maher, said the win had given the filly an advantage in one of the key Slipper lead-up races and a repeat performance was likely to guarantee her place in the world’s richest junior race.
“In two weeks you’ll have a Sweet Embrace, in three weeks you’ll have a Reisling, so we’ll probably look at one or the other and decide from there,” Gerard-Dubord said.
“She’s very straightforward. Mentally she’s very mature. She was very good from the beginning, and then of course she got better. She will only continue to improve.”
Maher also prepares Magic Millions Classic winner Unit Five and runner-up Tornado Valley, providing strong reference points for the current crop of youngsters in the stable.
Gerard-Dubord believes there is little distinction between the leading youngsters and describes the group as a particularly balanced and talented group.
“We have a really good group of two-year-olds this year,” he said.
“I wouldn’t say there’s a standout. The two Magic Millions guys, (stakes placegetter) Spicy Miss, and there’s a few more coming out in the next few weeks.”
The start of the Pierro Plate was delayed when Caloocan Beauty had to re-shod behind the barriers and then refused to load, leading to a late scratch.
Ciaron’s Star handled the delay without any problems and began to take a clear stance on speed, a factor that Berry says proved to be decisive.
“That’s usually how these two-year-old races are won. They’re won at the start and she performed well,” Berry said.
“Today it was about getting the win to get her close to a Slipper, and she has to keep improving like she has been doing, but she is going in the right direction.”
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