Ciaron Maher's new trainer snares his own feature win

AAP - Saturday September 30

Shortly to take over the stable of Ciaron Maher, Warrnambool-based Aaron Purcell is ready for the challenge.

Advertisement

Maher was last week suspended for six months by the Racing Appeals and Disciplinary Board over the ownership bona fides of five horses determined to be owned by convicted conman Peter Foster.

Before Purcell takes over Maher's team that includes outstanding three-year-olds Jukebox, Merchant Navy and Aloisia on Monday, he had his own feature race to win, Saturday's RM Ansett Classic (2400m) at Mornington.

The German-bred Swacadelic obliged for Purcell.

Ridden by apprentice Ben Allen, Swacadelic ($7) scored by a long neck from King Way ($4.40), with $2.60 favourite Settler's Stone three-quarters of a length away in third.

"The instructions to Ben were to put him to sleep in the first half of the race and do nothing and bring him into the race late," Purcell said.

"He's got a reasonably good turn of foot for a stayer and that's the way it worked out."

Purcell said Swacadelic will not attempt to emulate last year's Melbourne Cup winner Almandin.

The Lloyd Williams-owned stayer won the corresponding race last year, named the Harry White Classic at Caulfield on his way to Cup success, but Swacadelic has not been entered for this year's Cup.

"Last year he was unlucky not to win the distance race on Melbourne Cup day and just missed out on the Sandown Cup," Purcell said.

"Those sort of races are where he'll be heading again.

"I've got a busier six months ahead but I'll do my best to keep my Warrnambool horses going as well as I can.''

Purcell spent Saturday morning at Caulfield and is looking forward to the challenge ahead.

"I was at trackwork this morning with (Maher's assistant trainer) David Eustace going through all the horses," Purcell said.

"The horses are going fantastic. He's got a great bunch of staff and we're going to try and maintain that."

- By Craig Brennan (AAP)

Advertisment
More Reading...
In-Demand Stallions Feature in NZB Weanling Sale Catalogue
The catalogue for the 2025 NZB National Weanling Sale features the progeny of a broad range of sires, from proven topliners to exciting up-and-comers as well as the brand-new kid on the block, Profondo.
Sires With Winners - Tuesday June 3
Here is the full list of 30 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.
One to Watch – Echuca
Twin Hills Stud’s Peltzer had an impressive winner at Echuca on Tuesday for his breeder Olly Tait.
Impressive First Winner for St Marks Basilica
Coolmore shuttler St Mark’s Basilica (Fr) was the 2021 European Horse of the Year and the son of Siyouni is on the board as a sire with his first winner after Rogue Supremacy scored an impressive debut victory.
Sires With Winners - Monday June 2
Here is the full list of 40 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.
Pencarrow Stud hits a hundred winners in stellar season
Pencarrow Stud has celebrated an outstanding achievement with a century of homebred winners for the season.
G3 Fred Best Showdown for Quality Colts – Rosemont vs Yulong
The rescheduled $300,000 Group III BRC Fred Best Classic (1350m) brings stakes racing to a Wednesday this week with a field of 17 to go around at Doomben and at the head of the market is a pair of quality colts.
$1500 Weanling Becomes $525,000 Top Lot at MM National Yearling Finale
A colt by Harry Angel set a new benchmark in Australia for his sire and topped the final day of the Magic Millions National Yearling Sale when selling for $525,000 to conclude a hugely successful two weeks of sales.
Almanzor Colt Wins G2 Italian Derby
Wootton Bassett sired the winner of the Group I Prix du Jockey Club (French Derby) on Sunday in Camille Pissarro and then overnight his champion Cambridge Stud based son Almanzor (Fr) produced the winner of the Group II Derby Italiano (2200m).
Pride of Jenni to Visit I Am Invincible - Match Made in Heaven
Three-time Champion Sire I Am Invincible has been confirmed as the first mating for reigning Australian Champion Racehorse of the Year Pride Of Jenni, who will head to the breeding barn this season following a phenomenal racing career.