Racing is never a straightforward equation as the punters who supported Custom in her most recent performance can attest.
The Godolphin-owned four-year-old who is in the stable of Ciaron Maher, was sent out an odds-on favourite on the Caulfield Heath track at her most recent outing on August 8.
That assessment came off the back of a strong three length victory at Caulfield over 1200m on July 25 which came off the back of a first-up second, also over 1200m at Caulfield, four weeks earlier.
The Maher stable learned something from Custom’s defeat and have put in practise plans to not repeat reappearing at the races again so soon.
Custom is back at the races on Saturday to contest the Group 3 Courtza Stakes (1200m) at Caulfield, a return to Stakes level.
The daughter of Street Boss has placed at Listed level previously and finished just out of the money at Group 3 level when a three-year-old.
Maher is cognisant of the fact Saturday’s race is a rise in grade, but Custom is a stronger mare now and believes she deserves her chance.
The trainer took advantage of taking Custom to Caulfield on Tuesday morning, a gallop that provided Maher with the confidence to head to Saturday’s Group 3 contest.
“She worked well and she is a nice horse,” Maher said.
“It was a bit disappointing last time, but she ran a huge peak second-up and then running her back two weeks (later), it can be, off a peak, hard to do.
“She didn’t get the smoothest flow in running, but she’s at that level and it is worth a shot.”
Maher has called on recently returned Ethan Brown after his stint in Hong Kong to ride Custom on Saturday, replacing apprentice Jabez Johnstone in the non-claiming race.
The Maher stable also has Salty Pearl engaged on Saturday.
Salty Pearl is first-up on Saturday having finished third in the Group 1 Vinery Stud Stakes (2000m) at Rosehill and then fifth to Panova in the Group 1 Australasian Oaks (2000m) at Morphettville in April.
