Another Wil will not run in Saturday’s Group 1 Makybe Diva Stakes at Flemington, with trainer Ciaron Maher instead targeting the Group 1 Sir Rupert Clarke Stakes at Caulfield a week later.
Maher confirmed the change in plans after Another Wil’s unplaced performance in the Memsie Stakes late last month.
Sent out favourite, the gelding faded to finish sixth, beaten six lengths by Treasurethe Moment.
“That run bothered me a little bit,” Maher told racing.com. “We’ll give him that extra week, that’s probably the main thing, to bring him on a little more, and another run at the 1400 will only be to his benefit.”
Maher said the gelding had returned from a spell slightly bigger and was expected to need the run first-up, but Maher admitted he was surprised by the margin of defeat and noted Another Wil’s head carriage late in the Memsie.
“Hopefully it’s just fitness, but it was a bit of a worry,” he said.
The decision to hold off for the Rupert Clarke gives Another Wil three weeks between runs instead of two.
“Two weeks is tough anyway, so the extra week will help,” Maher said. “Just that run under the belt and he’s had a few good pieces of work since.”
