The previous occasion when the Ciaron Maher team secured the Tasmanian Derby sparked a sequence of successes in Derbies across Australia.
Explosive Jack took out the Tasmanian Derby during 2021, then captured the Australian Derby in Sydney along with the South Australian Derby in Adelaide.
The three-year-old later headed to Brisbane, where he placed third in the Queensland Derby.
Ciaron Maher’s most recent victor in the Tasmanian Derby at Hobart was Dad And Dave last month, and similar to Explosive Jack, he might embark on a journey targeting the other three Derbies in Australia this season.
A key element in that progression is the Group 2 Alister Clark Stakes over 2000m at Caulfield this Saturday, marking Dad And Dave’s initial appearance following his Tasmanian Derby triumph.
“He’s got that Tassie form, and he’s had a little bit of time since then,” Maher said.
“But this race will shape where we go. Potentially Sydney and potentially on the Explosive Jack path to Adelaide and Brisbane after that.
“He (Explosive Jack) did the lot, but this horse is probably not as robust at the same time as Explosive Jack, but we’ll see how he goes.
“He’s in pretty good order, all the same.”
Dad And Dave will have company from Amazake in the Alister Clark Stakes, with the latter aiming to secure his first career victory.
Amazake achieved third position in the Caulfield Classic across the same track and distance last spring prior to tackling the Victoria Derby at 2500m, where he ended up in the latter part of the placings.
In his sole start afterwards, Amazake was runner-up in a maiden event over 1600m at Pakenham earlier this month.
“I just like the way he went through the line at Pakenham,” Maher said.
“It’s a more testing track there, and he hit the line pretty well.
“Being a three-year-old, he’s got plenty of time to knock off a maiden, but he stays OK and can burn around in the Alister Clark Stakes.”
Explore the Australian betting sites for top racing odds ahead of the Alister Clark Stakes.