Juja Kibo has already surpassed expectations this preparation, and trainer Ciaron Maher hopes there’s more to come.
The imported six-year-old is set to compete in this Saturday’s $750,000 Group 2 Zipping Classic (2400m) at Sandown.
The Belardo gelding contests the race following his contribution to Maher’s historic Melbourne Cup trifecta, where he was narrowly beaten for second by Zahrann, finishing 3-3/4 lengths behind the dominant winner Point Of Law.
This came after victories in the Group 2 Moonee Valley Cup (2500m) and The Metropolitan (2400m). While many Melbourne Cup competitors have been spelled, Maher sees no reason to stop with Juja Kibo.
“He bounced through it really well,” Maher commented on his Melbourne Cup recovery.
“He just keeps raising the bar, he gets a bit better each time he steps out and he’s been on a bit of a whirlwind this prep.”
Juja Kibo’s initial two runs prior to The Metropolitan this campaign saw him secure a third placing in the Rowley Mile (1600m) and a second in the Kingston Town Stakes (2000m).
He is the first Melbourne Cup placegetter to contest the Zipping Classic since Spanish Mission, who finished unplaced as the $1.40 favourite in the 2021 Zipping Classic after a third in the Melbourne Cup.
Historically, twelve of the last 25 Zipping Classic winners have emerged from the Melbourne Cup field, and Juja Kibo is not the sole entrant from this year’s Cup heading to Sandown.
Knight’s Choice, the winner of the 2024 Melbourne Cup, is also making the trip after finishing 12th, joined by Strictly Business (18th), Vauban (last), and Juja Kibo’s stablemate Middle Earth, who secured 10th place in the Melbourne Cup.
Maher indicated that Middle Earth, who finished third in the Melbourne Cup a year before Juja Kibo, was disadvantaged by the race’s tempo and still possesses untapped potential.
“He came out of it really well,” he stated.
“He overdid it. (Royal) Supremacy went a nice tempo, but the rest of the field didn’t and that didn’t really suit him, so he didn’t have much of a run.”
Mark Zahra, who guided Middle Earth in the Melbourne Cup, will switch to partner the strong favourite Small Fry in the Zipping Classic. This opens the door for Ethan Brown to reunite with the horse he rode in last year’s Melbourne Cup.
Middle Earth will start from barrier five, alongside Juja Kibo, who will again be steered by Sam Clipperton from the inside alley.
For those looking to back a runner, the Zipping Classic presents an exciting opportunity to explore the latest racing odds at Australian betting sites.
