Mr Monaco punched his Melbourne Cup ticket with a tough Group 3 Bart Cummings win at Flemington on Saturday, handing Ciaron Maher another ballot exemption after the stayer was switched from The Metropolitan and ridden to a 1¼-length victory by apprentice Jabez Johnstone.
According to Just Horse Racing (posted 5:37pm AEST) and Betsy, Mr Monaco ($8) defeated favourite Litzdeel ($4.60) by 1¼ lengths in The Lexus Bart Cummings (2500m), with Valiant King ($13) a further four lengths away third. The win earns a ballot exemption into the Melbourne Cup (3200m) at Flemington on November 3.
Highway switch pays off
Mr Monaco had also been an acceptor for The Metropolitan (2400m) at Randwick, but Maher’s team sent him to Flemington when the weather shifted midweek. Maher said confidence grew after watching stablemate Juja Kibo win The Metropolitan about 15 minutes earlier.
“The horse had been a little bit out of form, but before that he and Juju Kibo had run together and with Juju winning The Metropolitan, it gave me a bit of confidence,” Maher said, according to Just Horse Racing.
“He did have good wet form, so we thought we’d send him down the highway and now he’s here in Melbourne and has got a ticket.
“There’s a great ownership group and now they’re in the Cup.
“The next month and a bit, when you get one in the Cup is the most thrilling time for the owners. The build-up, it’s nearly better than the race.
“The Metrop was his aim, but when the weather came, on Wednesday, at acceptance time, that’s when we travel our horses and that’s when we made the call and thankfully, we did.”
Johnstone’s mainland stakes breakthrough
Apprentice Jabez Johnstone produced a positive ride for his first stakes win on the mainland, according to Just Horse Racing. Maher praised the Tasmanian rider’s work ethic and strength in the saddle.
“He’s a little ripper,” Maher said. “He’s been a revelation since coming across.
“My General Manager Sam Lefebvre follows the Tassie racing having worked down there and he said ‘this kid is going places, and we need to get him’.
“He works hard. I get on with him quite well. He’s usually a man of few words and I don’t mind that either. It was a good positive ride and he’s strong.”
Races.com.au reported the same placings and quoted Johnstone calling it a “massive thrill” after settling prominently and finishing strongly. The Maher stable already holds a Cup ballot exemption through Shockletz’s Archer win last month.
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