Horse racing rarely follows a predictable path, a lesson underscored by the supporters of Custom in her latest performance.
The four-year-old, owned by Godolphin and trained by Ciaron Maher, was the heavily backed favourite at Caulfield Heath on August 8.
This market position was built upon a dominant three-length victory at Caulfield on July 25, which itself followed a solid first-up second over the same 1200-metre distance four weeks prior.
The Maher stable took valuable lessons from Custom’s recent setback, implementing strategies to avoid a repeat of racing her too soon after a peak performance.
Custom is set to return to the track this Saturday to compete in the Group 3 Courtza Stakes, a 1200-metre event at Caulfield, marking a step back up to Stakes level.
The daughter of Street Boss has previously achieved placings at Listed company and finished just outside the top three at Group 3 level as a three-year-old.
Maher acknowledges that Saturday’s race represents an increase in class, but he is confident that Custom, now a more mature and stronger mare, has earned her opportunity.
The trainer capitalised on a visit to Caulfield on Tuesday morning for a gallop, an exercise that provided Maher with the assurance needed to target Saturday’s Group 3 contest.
“She worked well and she is a nice horse,” Maher stated.
“It was a bit disappointing last time, but she ran a huge peak second-up and then running her back two weeks (later), it can be, off a peak, hard to do.
“She didn’t get the smoothest flow in running, but she’s at that level and it is worth a shot.”
Maher has enlisted the services of Ethan Brown, who has recently returned from a stint in Hong Kong, to partner Custom on Saturday. Brown will replace apprentice Jabez Johnstone in this non-claiming race.
The Maher stable also has another runner engaged for Saturday’s card: Salty Pearl.
Salty Pearl is making her return to racing on Saturday, having previously secured a third-place finish in the Group 1 Vinery Stud Stakes (2000m) at Rosehill and a fifth in the Group 1 Australasian Oaks (2000m) at Morphettville back in April.
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