The Ciaron Maher team is employing a proven strategy once again to restore Strawberry Rock to peak performance ahead of the Hobart event.
Strawberry Rock seeks consecutive triumphs in Sunday’s Group 3 Hobart Cup (2400m) after defeating ex-stable companion Promises Kept in the contest 12 months ago.
Jack Turnbull, National Assistant Trainer for Ciaron Maher Racing, noted that Strawberry Rock has spent the last month training at Seven Mile Beach to regain sharpness in his stride.
Strawberry Rock hasn’t secured a victory since his Hobart success last year, though he did place runner-up in the Listed Mornington Cup back in April.
In the current preparation, he was beaten by a comparable distance to the victor in the Pakenham Cup just like the previous year, and most recently, he finished 1.7 lengths behind in the Listed Bagot Handicap (2800m) at Flemington on December 31.
“We took Strawberry over early just because of the way they are trained over there,” Turnbull said.
“The environment is much easier for them. Last year he was only treading water, and he really came on when he went there with Promises Kept.
“He was racing very dour and we needed to get some speed in his legs and hopefully we’ve done that down there again.”
Turnbull explained that the training facilities at Seven Mile Beach somewhat mirror those at Cranbourne.
“They live in sand yards,” Turnbull said.
“The bush tracks are fantastic, and you have access to the beach. It replicates what we have at Cranbourne to an extent, but it’s deeper sand and you can incorporate wading through the water.”
Fellow stable runner Ziryab is also entered for Sunday’s feature and joined Strawberry Rock at Seven Mile Beach simultaneously.
Ziryab outperformed Strawberry Rock in the Pakenham Cup and has since competed locally in Tasmania, ending up eighth in the Summer Cup (2000m) at Hobart on January 18.
“He was wide, no cover, keen, and ran poor,” Turnbull said.
“He’s given us no reason to bring him home and his work has been solid from then through to now.
“He’s the pick of the two if he was to get back into the form he was in Melbourne as Strawberry needs to lift a little, and hopefully he does.”
Backers looking for value in the Hobart Cup should explore the top Australian betting sites ahead of Sunday’s action.
The post Maher has two-pronged Hobart Cup attack first appeared on Just Horse Racing.