Ciaron Maher is set to have his first runner in Hong Kong next month with multiple Group 3 winner Recommendation aiming towards the G1 Hong Kong Sprint (1200m) at Sha Tin.
Recommendation is slated to contest the Listed Century Stakes (1000m) at Flemington on Oaks Day – a race that has been won by world class sprinters like Redzel and Lankan Rupee in the past – before he makes his first trip abroad.
“His program has been designed around taking him to Hong Kong,” said Jack Turnbull, Maher’s assistant trainer. “We’re looking at the 1000-metre race on Oaks Day and, at this stage, he’ll be heading to Hong Kong after that. There’s still a lot that can happen between now and then but it would be exciting for us to have a runner over there.”
The five-year-old Shalaa gelding has run twice at Group 1 level, finishing sixth in the Oakleigh Plate (1100m) and eighth in the Manikato Stakes (1200m). However, his narrow third in the G2 Australia Stakes (1200m) behind Group 1 winners Veight and Southport Tycoon reads well, while he does have four Group 3 wins to his name – all at Caulfield.
Maher’s former training partner David Eustace, who was the co-trainer of Recommendation until February, shifted to Hong Kong earlier this year. However, he does not have any horses entered for the major races.
It is shaping up as Australia’s biggest Hong Kong International Races contingent in years with Antino to target the G1 Hong Kong Mile (1600m) and Without A Fight potentially bound for the G1 Hong Kong Vase (2400m) or G1 Hong Kong Cup (2000m) ∎
