Kiwi Sydney Cup contender Needs Clear Skies

Media Release - Thursday March 21

Mahrajaan will be given the chance to showcase his staying ability in Australia next month, provided the weather comes to the party.

The venture is wholly-dependant on a clear forecast for the Shaun Ritchie and Colm Murray-trained representative’s crack at the Gr.1 Sydney Cup (3200m) at Randwick on April 13.

New Zealand and Auckland Cup winner Mahrajaan is now a hopeful for the Gr.1 Sydney Cup (3200m) at Randwick next month.  Photo: Race Images South

“He is booked to fly out the Monday before the Cup, but if there is any rain on the radar and the track looks like being wet then he won’t be on the plane based on the fact that he does need good footing,” Ritchie said.

“He has already won a New Zealand Cup (Gr.3, 3200m) and with a freshen-up the Auckland Cup (Gr.2, 3200m), so to ask him for a third one two mile race this season isn’t always smart,” he said.

“Having said that, since he’s been here he has got better and better in both his racing and acclimatising and getting used to the way Australasian races are run.

“We won’t be asking him to run in a lead-up race and he’ll go straight into the Sydney Cup.”

Ahead of the Australian trip, Ritchie will again incorporate a beach-based program for Mahrajaan.

“We will follow the proven method and take him to Ruakaka two weeks before the Sydney Cup and he’ll have an exhibition gallop at the meeting up there as well,” he said.

“If the track looks like being wet in Sydney, we’ve got a decision to make as to whether we give him a break and aim at Melbourne in the spring or look at the Brisbane Cup (Gr1, 3200m).

“I’ll talk to the owners and make the call at the time, but certainly we’re focussing on the Sydney Cup for now. If he does go there, then he’ll come home for a break afterwards.”

Sydney will also provide connections whether Mahrajaan could be a genuine Gr.1 Melbourne Cup (3200m) contender.

“The two positives are that the two miles is obviously no problem to him, and Flemington is like Ellerslie in that the drainage is so good and nine time out of 10 produces a firm track, that’s exactly what he needs,” Ritchie said.

Advertisement

“What he lacks in my opinion at this stage, is that turn of foot to sprint and win a Melbourne Cup, which recent winners have had.

“Those dour horses don’t seem to win it anymore, but having said that in every prep we have given him since he’s been here, he has got better and better.

“Clearly, the best turn of foot he has showed was in the Auckland Cup.”

Ritchie acknowledges Mahrajaan will need to continue to improve to warrant their sights being set on Flemington.

“It’s a dream to have a horse in Melbourne Cup for the owners and myself, but we wouldn’t be going around for the sake of it,” he said.

“He’s got to prove that he’s up to it and the only way to do that is to give him his best chance, which is clearly why we’re keen on Sydney.

“It would be a hit and run job and he’d come home and then be prepared correctly for the Melbourne spring.

“If he did go to Brisbane, the time shrinks for that and the other point is that he loves the beach environment and there are plenty of beaches in Melbourne.”

Bred in America, the son of Kitten’s Joy won three of his 10 starts from William Haggas’ Newmarket stable before Ritchie purchased him for 75,000gns at the 2022 Tattersalls Autumn Horses In Training Sale.

“William Haggas is a fantastic trainer with a tremendous record and, for him to have sold the horse, I’m hoping this is one that slipped through to the keeper,” Ritchie said. – LOVERACING.NZ News Desk

Advertisment
More Reading...
Cup Dream Alive for Kiwi Marathon Stayer
The Cambridge-based horseman trains the six-year-old with Colm Murray and all roads will lead to the Gr.1 Melbourne Cup (3200m) in the spring.
New SW Ace High- She's a Hustler Continues Kiwi Bred Success
Talented five-year-old mare She’s A Hustler scored a game victory in the Gr.3 Tesio Stakes (2040m) at The Valley on Saturday continuing a landslide of Kiwi bred success in Australia this spring.
Deserving G2 Fillies Classic Success For Tagaloa's Salty Pearl
After a solid run in black type races, the connections of the Ciaron Maher trained Tagaloa filly Salty Pearl were rewarded for her consistency, backing up from a solid fourth in last Saturday's Group 1 MRC Thousand Guineas to claim the $300,000 Group 2 MVRC Fillies Classic (1600m) at Moonee Valley on Saturday.
Blueblood Lonhro Colt Wins G1 Spring Champion
At the start of August we ran a story about the 3YO’s that were entered for this year Cox Plate and aside from the usual suspects there were some ‘Cox Plate dreamers’ and one of them was unraced Lonhro colt Attica, who capped his meteoric rise to fame with a thrilling victory in the $2million Group I ATC Spring Champion Stakes (2000m) at Randwick on Saturday.
2025 Cox Plate Result - Fastnet Rock and Waller Quinella
A genuine champion sire should be able to produce the horses that win the very best races in the country in which they stand and the late great Fastnet Rock have us a demonstration of that when his high class Northern Hemisphere bred offspring Via Sistina (IRE) and Buckaroo (GB) fought out an epic finish to the $6million Group I MVRC WS Cox Plate (2040m) at Moonee Valley on Saturday.
New SW Savabeel- Sir Albert wins Listed Spring Classic
Classy gelding Sir Albert starred in the Listed Sothys Spring Classic (2000m) at Riccarton on Saturday in another winning double for Terri Rae, but the local trainer was only a nose and a neck away from an even more remarkable day.
Sires With Winners - Friday October 24
Here is the full list of 60 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.
Lindermann Cracks $4million in Earnings
Gelded after losing form following his tenacious victory in the 2023 Group I ATC Rosehill Guineas, the Chris Waller trained Lindemann has embraced life as a gelding and has been on fire this spring racking up a series of lucrative wins including the $750,000 Group III ATC Craven Plate (1800m) at Randwick on Saturday.
Invincible Colt Wins $1million G2 Callander Presnell for Godolphin
Progressive I Am Invincible colt Ohope won the $1million ATC Tapp Craig (1400m) at his previous start, however was not rewarded officially with Black Type for that result, but he did achieve stakes-winner status at Randwick on Saturday when scoring a determined win over quality colt Rivellino in the $1million ATC Callander Presnell (1600m).
VRC Derby Favourite Strengthens His Chances With G2 Vase Win
When breaking his maiden by five lengths at just his second start last season, Ghaiyyath's colt Observer looked to have above average ability, but it was his third last start in the Group 1 MRC Caulfield Guineas (1600m) that had everybody talking about the exciting prospect.