MAHER’S DAY OF DOMINATION

Saturday was a red-letter day for trainer Ciaron Maher, but in terms of the bigger picture for this year, the win of Saint George at Flemington may have been the most important one of them all.

Maher trained eight winners Australia-wide on Saturday, consisting of a treble on the Gold Coast, highlighted by his quinella in the Magic Millions Classic, a double at Flemington and Cranbourne and a win with Future History at Rosehill.

Maher has made no secret that he is setting Saint George for the Melbourne Cup and Saturday’s gutsy win over 2000m was another stepping stone on that journey.

Ciaron Maher’s Assistant National Trainer, Jack Turnbull, said Saint George was now looking for 2500 metres and he will graduate to that distance at his next start at Flemington on February 14.

Turnbull said after that, Saint George will contest the Roy Higgins Quality (2600m) at Flemington on March 28, which carries a ballot exemption into the Melbourne Cup for the winner.

Saint George was ridden by visiting Irish jockey Robert Whearty, who remarked on the grey gelding’s toughness.

Turnbull told Racing.com that the stable will have two runners in each of the heats of the Blue Diamond Preview at Caulfield on Saturday.

In the fillies Preview, they will be represented by first starter Angels Fury, who has been supported to win the Blue Diamond and Ghana’s Akan. In the colts and geldings, they will have an I Am Invincible first starter, Invicto, who has also been trialling impressively and Pakenham debut winner Milsons Point.

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