Image: Bruno Cannatelli
Maher stable keeps an eye on the weather and the track ahead of the Flemington sprint
The weather in Melbourne will determine whether Nadal gets a chance to turn the tables on Hedged in next Saturday’s $200,000 Standish Handicap at Flemington.
Stable Ciaron Maher trains the five-year-old son of Xtravagant as if he were competing in the 1200 meters Group 3, but is aware of the predicted conditions this week.
Temperatures are expected to rise above 40 degrees by mid-week before race day becomes much more pleasant with a chance of showers, which Maher’s assistant trainer Jack Turnbull said would likely be necessary for the gelding to start.
“It’s an option, six furlongs down the straight (appeal), but it’s more dependent on the weather,” Turnbull said on Saturday from Geelong, where the track reached a Good 3.
“If the ground looked like it does today, you’d probably wait. We’d like to have a drop of rain and we’re not under any pressure because it could actually just keep poking through the fall and even the winter.”
“He is being prepared, but we will have to see whether we go or not.”
Nadal had the best race of his four-start campaign when second to Hedged – who is Standish-bound – in the Listed Christmas Stakes (1200m) on Boxing Day and Turnbull said although he was beaten by 2-1/2 lengths, the team was confident of the performance.
“He was good, he just came back and had to run through some traffic, but the winner was quite impressive,” Turnbull said.
“It was much better. He’s probably at his peak fitness-wise, now we just have to keep that going and keep his action going.”
“He went out last pre-season for knee problems, so it’s a matter of keeping our balance, which we have.
“He’s doing fine at the moment, but running him on a fast track would probably be an opportunity to undo him.”
Even if Nadal isn’t your cup of tea, Maher has a chance to be represented in the Standish Handicap as the camp weighs their options with Extratwo.
The six-year-old daughter of Toronado also entered the Christmas Stakes, finishing a length behind Nadal in sixth place, and Turnbull said it was a matter of weighing up the best option.
“Either we go there, or there’s a 1200 or a 1400 (benchmark) 84 the week after we were able to claim,” Turnbull said.
“She is on the borderline of a listed Group 3 mare in the right class and race, but we just have to place her in the best possible position.”
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