The Ciaron Maher stable has secured another ‘Golden Ticket’ into the Melbourne Cup with the victory of Mr Monaco at Flemington.
Mr Monaco claimed the Group 3 The Bart Cummings (2500m) on Saturday, earning a ballot exemption for the Melbourne Cup (3200m) at Flemington on November 3.
Shockletz had previously secured a ballot exemption for the Maher stable with her win in The Archer (2500m) at Flemington last month.
Although Mr Monaco was also an acceptor for The Metropolitan (2400m) at Randwick on Saturday, the decision was made to divert him to Flemington.
Ridden by apprentice Jabez Johnstone, Mr Monaco ($8) achieved a 1-ΒΌ-length victory over the $4.60 favourite Litzdeel, with Valiant King ($13) finishing a further four lengths back in third.
Maher’s confidence in Mr Monaco was bolstered after observing Juju Kibo’s win in The Metropolitan just 15 minutes before The Bart Cummings.
“The horse had been a little bit out of form, but before that he and Juju Kibo had run together and with Juju winning The Metropolitan, it gave me a bit of confidence,” Maher stated.
“He did have good wet form, so we thought we’d send him down the highway and now he’s here in Melbourne and has got a ticket.
“There’s a great ownership group and now they’re in the Cup.
“The next month and a bit, when you get one in the Cup is the most thrilling time for the owners.
“The build-up, it’s nearly better than the race.
“The Metrop was his aim, but when the weather came, on Wednesday, at acceptance time, that’s when we travel our horses and that’s when we made the call and thankfully, we did.”
Maher commended Johnstone for his ride aboard Mr Monaco, marking the Tasmanian apprentice’s first Stakes race win on the mainland.
“He’s a little ripper,” Maher remarked about Johnstone.
“He’s been a revelation since coming across.
“My General Manager Sam Lefebvre follows the Tassie racing having worked down there and he said ‘this kid is going places, and we need to get him’.
“He works hard. I get on with him quite well. He’s usually a man of few words and I don’t mind that either.
“It was a good positive ride and he’s strong.”
Mr Monaco’s victory has secured his spot in the prestigious Melbourne Cup.
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