CIARON Maher’s has shown his faith in talented Irish jockey Robert Whearty by providing him with plumb rides at Flemington and he’s expecting him to deliver.
Last Saturday Whearty had his first ride at Flemington and was successful on Midnite Storm for Maher.
Whearty only has only two rides at Flemington which are both for Maher.
He rides the $2.20 favourite at Unibet Celerity in Fillies and Mares Benchmark 78 and Saint George in the Benchmark 100m (2000m) and he is $3.00 second favourite.
Whearty rode Saint George to victory at Cranbourne on December 27 which provided him with his first metropolitan winner in Victoria.
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Whearty finished second in the Irish apprentice’s championship and on the recommendation of star Irish jockey Dylan Brown McMonagle, who spent the summers of 2023 and 2024 here, he decided to approach Maher about coming out to ride.
Maher didn’t hesitate and Whearty came over to his stables in late November.
Maher is confident Saint George will continue on his winning ways, and he is eyeing off a run in the 2026 Melbourne Cup with him.
He is targeting the Melbourne Cup golden ticket race the Roy Higgins Quality (2600m) at Flemington on March 28.
Maher speaking on SEN Track said Saint George “is a horse with a lot of ability.”
“He’s had a few feet issues. Last start he was back to his best. We’re targeting Roy Higgins to get a Melbourne Cup run and his whole preparation will be directed to that,” Maher said.
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Maher said Saint George doesn’t mind a track with a bit of give in it but he also handles firm tracks.
Celerity returned to her best form with a demonstrative win just under four lengths on New Year’s Eve at Flemington.
Whearty will replace Jamie Melham, who is riding on the Gold Coast and Maher said he is pleased to give him the opportunity on her.
Maher said on SEN track that Saint George and Celerity were his best chances on Saturday.
