The Ciaron Maher stable enters the Mornington Cup with three chances to emulate the feat of Right You Are 12 months ago.
Right You Are’s victory in the Listed 2400m contest earned the stayer a ballot exemption into the Group 1 Caulfield Cup (2400m) in which he finished fifth, beaten just over four lengths behind Without A Fight.
The Maher stable will saddle Future History, Strawberry Rock and United Nations on Saturday as they bid to win a start in October’s Caulfield Cup.
Maher said the rise in distance to 2400m will suit Future History who ran in last year’s Melbourne Cup after landing victory in The Bart Cummings (2500m) at Flemington to earn a ballot exemption.
Future History has had two runs back from finishing 15th in the Melbourne Cup and is coming off a last start sixth in the Group 3 Easter Cup (2000m) at Caulfield on April 6.
“He was very good. It was a decent tempo, and the 2000 metres is probably as short as he wants,” Maher said.
“He was the speed in the Easter Cup, so third-up I think he should be pretty right.”
Even though Future History ran in the Melbourne Cup last year, Maher doubts he is a true two-miler, so with that in mind he is keen for a shot at the Caulfield Cup with the gelding.
“Right You Are won the Mornington Cup last year and went to the Caulfield Cup and run very well,” Maher said.
“If you run well in the Caulfield Cup, you possibly go to the Melbourne Cup, but I think he’s possibly more a mile-and-a-half horse.”
Maher said Strawberry Rock was beginning to show some consistency, being placed in his last four starts, including a win at Moonee Valley over 2500m on March 23.
The gelding backed-up a week later in the Melbourne Cup qualifier, The Roy Higgins at Flemington, and was touched out late by Mark Twain.
“He backed up last time and went very well and he does seem in very good order,” Maher said.
“He used to mix his form a little bit, but he’s been fairly consistent and if he holds it, he’s going to be very competitive on Saturday.”
United Nations completes Maher’s trio of runners.
“He will step up to the mile-and-a-half, which will suit him much better as well,” Maher said.
