Upon his arrival in Australia for his initial campaign, Middle Earth demonstrated immediate form.
His debut was a success in the Australian Cup Prelude (2000m) at Flemington, followed by a fifth-place finish in the Australian Cup.
Middle Earth’s next appearance in the placings was in the JRA Cup at Moonee Valley last October, serving as a lead-up to his third-place result in the previous year’s Melbourne Cup.
European stayers typically perform well initially before their form gradually returns as their time in Australia extends.
This is the expectation the Ciaron Maher stable holds as they target the Caulfield Cup and Melbourne Cup with Middle Earth, who takes a step towards those major races in the Group 1 Underwood Stakes (1800m) at Caulfield this Saturday.
Middle Earth spent the winter in Queensland’s warmer climate, achieving a victory at Doomben in May, and then resumed with a respectable eighth in the Heatherlie Stakes (1700m) at Caulfield on August 29.
Jack Turnbull, National Assistant Trainer for Ciaron Maher Racing, stated that Middle Earth has progressed well in his Cups campaign, carrying 55kg in the Caulfield Cup and 56.5kg in the Melbourne Cup, a 2kg increase from his weight when finishing third last year.
“He’s great,” Turnbull said.
“I think he’s sharpened up off the break and last preparation. We won a Group 3 at 2000 metres up in Queensland.
“He gets winkers back on and it’s all part of the process to get him up in trip.
“We feel he is sharper and better (than last year) and he’ll be on to the Caulfield Cup and Melbourne Cup, and he is one of our better chances.”
With Melbourne anticipating sunshine on Friday and a warm day on Saturday, Turnbull indicated that the ideal track conditions for Middle Earth would be a surface ranging from Good 4 to Soft 5, akin to good European ground.
Turnbull added that a strong performance would satisfy the stable, as Middle Earth is slated to contest the Turnbull Stakes (2000m) at Flemington on October 3, en route to the Caulfield Cup.
“If you’re running well in an Underwood, it generally carries through to races a bit later on,” Turnbull stated.
Betting on the Underwood Stakes is now open at leading Australian betting sites.