The Australian Cup Prelude on Flemington’s card might lack the prestige of the earlier events that day, yet it could shine a light on potential big-race winners down the track.

Trainer Ciaron Maher plans to introduce a pair of imported runners in Saturday’s 2000m event – Augustus and Desert Hero.

Desert Hero previously competed on Australian tracks, having come from the UK with trainer William Haggas for the Sydney Autumn Carnival last year.

By contrast, the German-bred Augustus last raced in mid-last year, taking out a victory in Hamburg, and he is now partially owned by Australian Bloodstock, the group that imported prior Melbourne Cup champions Protectionist and Gold Trip.

Maher noted that Augustus brings back memories of Gold Trip, the horse that delivered his first Melbourne Cup success back in 2022.

“He flicks his action a little bit like Gold Trip,” Maher said.

“He’s got good, strong formlines coming across.

We opted not to bring him out in quarantine. We opted to give him a break and let him furnish and he’s certainly done that.

I think he’s come up super.”

To gear up for his comeback on Saturday, Augustus has completed a jump-out along with a 1500m trial, and Mark Zahra will take the mount.

“Mark rode him the other day at Caulfield (Heath) and he liked what he felt,” Maher said.

“I think Flemington will suit, a big, open galloping track. I think he will be a horse we will see more of in these better staying races.”

Maher anticipates a short autumn stint for Augustus prior to targeting spring riches like the Caulfield Cup and Melbourne Cup combination.

“He’ll probably have a couple of runs and whether he goes to Queensland, we’ll work that out with the Australian Bloodstock boys, but he’s impressed me with what I’ve seen,” Maher said.

Since his Randwick run last April, Desert Hero has appeared just once, placing fourth in the 1500m trial at Caulfield Heath where Augustus was runner-up.

Following his Sydney effort, Maher gave Desert Hero a lengthy spell and some time in New Zealand.

“He’s got a good solid base. He prepped up over in New Zealand,” Maher said.

“He had a long break, which I think he needed and he’s come up well also.

He’s been out of form for a little while, so he needs to find form, but looking at the way he is, he should hit the line well also.”

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