Trainer Ciaron Maher has strengthened his Melbourne Cup numbers with Juja Kibo winning a ‘Golden Ticket’ via victory in the Moonee Valley Cup.
A last start winner of The Metropolitan (2400m) at Randwick on October 3, Juja Kibo produced a powerful finish to claim the Group 2 Moonee Valley Gold Cup (2500m) at Flemington on Saturday.
The Moonee Valley Gold Cup carried the last of the 10 ballot free exemptions into the Melbourne Cup (3200m) at Flemington on November 3.
Six of those races have been run on Victorian soil with Maher making full use of the races.
Shockletz won The Archer in September for Maher before Mr Monaco won The Bart Cummings and then Point Of Law won the Geelong Cup on Wednesday.
Juja Kibo was the latest to assure a place in the Melbourne Cup with Maher now having seven runners safely in the field of 24.
Maher also has Royal Supremacy, Middle Earth and Saint George among the 24 with Zahrann sitting at number 25.
“They seem to be coming together at the right time,” Maher said.
“They’re going well, they’re in their right races and the team are doing a great job and I’m very proud.”
Ridden by Sam Clipperton, Juja Kibo ($7.50) scored by a half-length from stablemate Kings Valley ($13) with another stablemate Mr Monaco ($16) a long head away third.
Maher praised Clipperton for his work ethic riding the stayer this campaign in Sydney.
“Sam, since he’s come back from his break, he’s done a lot of work for the stable and he asked if he could ride him,” Maher said.
“He said he would make the weight, and he had been galloping him and knew how good he was going.
“He won the race (The Metropolitan) and asked if he could come down here.
“I spoke to the owners, he had a night out with them up there I think, and that sealed the deal, but they were all on board, and since his last run, Sam rode him, and said he’s improved again.
“He was fantastic. To come off a slow speed and show such a good turn of foot, carrying a decent amount of weight, it was a pretty good win.”
Maher was also rapt with the performances of the runner-up Kings Valley and third-placed Mr Monaco who has provided Tasmanian apprentice Jabez Johnstone with a Melbourne Cup ride.
“Kings Valley was back there as well, and I thought he was no chance,” Maher said.
“He was a bit unlucky in a Caulfield Cup not to be fighting out the finish, so he’s running into form and Jabez and Mr Monaco, that was a nice tickover for next Tuesday (week).”
