Unit Five made headlines by taking out the Magic Millions 2YO Classic on just his second outing, and trainer Ciaron Maher is upbeat about the unbeaten colt’s prospects of achieving more this weekend at Caulfield.
The Supido gelding is the standout in a trio of runners Maher has entered in the $2 million Group 1 Blue Diamond Stakes, alongside Ghana’s Akan and Milsons Point.
After the Gold Coast event on January 17, Maher decided to skip another outing for Unit Five, noting that no previous winner of the Magic Millions 2YO Classic has gone straight into the Diamond and succeeded, but he believes it suits his runner who placed third behind Milsons Point in a Cranbourne trial last Monday.
“He trialled well and he seems very similar,” Maher said.
“He’s a very similar weight, travelled down well and seems in similar order. I can’t fault him, really, he’s a very straightforward horse.
“I think he’ll run to that (Gold Coast run) and possibly better given it’s only his third run.
“I like the fact that his runs have been spaced and he’s fresh. It worked going into that (Gold Coast) race and I think it’ll work going into this race.”
Prior to the Gold Coast, Unit Five’s sole appearance was a commanding victory in the $250,000 Magic Millions Victorian 2YO Classic at Caulfield on December 20.
Currently at $7 in Blue Diamond markets, he trails the Mick Price and Michael Kent Jnr-prepared duo of Big Sky and Guest House, plus debut Blue Diamond Prelude victor Closer To Free.
Milsons Point, runner-up in the latest Blue Diamond Preview, sits at $34, but Maher was impressed by the Blue Point colt’s trial effort last week and expects him to thrive stretching out past 1000m for the first occasion.
“I think the 1200 will really suit him, he was looking for the 12 the other day, he was there to win the race but just didn’t have that turn of foot over 1000,” Maher said.
“I think the 1200 it will be a different story.”
Similar to Unit Five, Ghana’s Akan arrives from an away fixture in a lucrative sales race, placing second in the $2 million Inglis Millennium over 1100m on February 7—her third start in five weeks—yet Maher reports the Street Boss filly is in good shape.
“She has been busy, but she’s also fit and well and sound,” he said.
“She doesn’t need to do any work. She’s been busy, she’s been travelling, so you’re just backing off and you don’t mind doing that with two-year-olds.”
Ethan Brown takes the mount on Ghana’s Akan for the debut partnership on Saturday, while Ben Allen sticks with Milsons Point and Tom Stockdale partners Unit Five again. Punters can explore the racing betting markets ahead of the Blue Diamond Stakes.
The post Unit Five leads Maher Blue Diamond Stakes assault first appeared on Just Horse Racing.