A shock win with Land Legend was the main thing Ciaron Maher took out of The Might And Power, but it was not the only positive to come from the Caulfield event.
The defeat of Sheza Alibi in the 2000-metre Group 1 gave the white-hot trainer confidence that the boom mare is gettable in the Golden Eagle.
Maher will tackle this Saturday’s $10 million Group 1 at Randwick with his Northern Hemisphere three-year-old Amazing Journey.
The Might And Power result raised hopes that Maher might be able to register his first win in the race that is now in its eighth year.
“It certainly probably wasn’t ideal for Sheza Alibi having a tough run like that at the 10 furlongs,” Maher said.
“But good horses have a way of defying. They’re just good, so I’m sure she’ll still be very, very hard to beat.”
Maher is delighted with how it has come together for Amazing Journey, who will carry the colours of the Maher stable’s microshare company Unbridled Racing, which is still offering $349 shares in the gelding in the week of the race.
The son of Starspangledbanner arrived in Australia a winner of five of his 11 starts, including back-to-back wins over 1207m and 1408m at Ascot at his final two starts before heading south.
He trialled twice in the lead-up to his Australian debut, trailing the field home in a 1000m workout at Randwick on October 6 before an encouraging narrow second placing to King Of Roseau over 1030m at Rosehill 13 days later.
“He took a bit of time as you can see through his form, but he came over very fit and he’s had the two trials,” Maher said.
“His first one he was a little bit fresh and then he was beautiful the other day. The times were good and his recovery was good.
“I think he’s a very talented horse.”
Amazing Journey presents English history-maker Saffie Osborne with a shot at another feature win with the 24-year-old to jet in to partner Amazing Journey in the Golden Eagle.
Osborne has ridden Amazing Journey in eight of his 11 starts, which Maher considers an asset for his first Australian start.
“She’s got a good record on him and we’re happy to put her on,” he said.
Osborne is striving to become the first female jockey to win the Golden Eagle, but is no stranger to breaking barriers having become the female jockey to ride a winner of a UK Classic when she partnered Highwayman to victory in the English St Leger earlier this year.
Amazing Journey is a $15 chance in Golden Eagle betting, which remains dominated by $1.80 favourite Sheza Alibi.
