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...
Cream Rises at Trentham
A half-sister by Hello Youmzain (Fr) to dual Group I winner Mustang Valley, exciting filly Cream Tart is set to line up in one of the major three-year-old races over New Zealand Cup Week following her impressive win in Sunday’s Upper Hutt Car Sales LTD Three-Year-Old (1400m) at Trentham.
Undefeated 3YO King of Light Wins Listed Belgravia
Dan Morton's exciting three year old King Of Light (Earthlight) remains unbeaten in three starts, as the gelding graduated to stakes company with a scintillating first up victory in the Listed Belgravia Stakes on Cox Plate Day at Ascot.
Yes Yes Yes 3YO Shooting for G2 on Monday
Last year’s Gr.2 James and Annie Sarten Memorial (1400m) set Savaglee up for Group One glory in Christchurch, and Matamata trainer Pam Gerard is hoping to follow a similar blueprint in 2025 with her Yes Yes Yes 3YO Affirmative Action..
Sires With Winners - Saturday October 25
Here is the full list of 136 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.
Hi Yo Sass Bomb Wins G3 on Sunday
Kim Reid bypassed a Group One in favour of Sunday’s Gr.3 Gee and Hickton Funeral Directors Thompson Handicap (1600m) at Trentham with Hi Yo Sass Bomb, a decision that paid dividends when the mare led from the outset to claim her third stakes success.
Pedigree Watch - Powerhouse Godolphin 3YOs Dominate
The current crop of three year-olds running for Godolphin lay claim to being the best they have ever produced in Australia and three of those colts won Group races in Australia on Saturday so let’s take a look at those pedigrees.
Doubtland 2YO All On Red Smashes Them Again at Ascot
Widden Stud's Doubtland has a potential 2YO topliner in Perth in the shape of exciting WA colt All On Red, who remains undefeated from two starts after another comprehensive Ascot Saturday win.
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.
Transatlantic Takes $1million Five Diamonds Prelude
Transatlantic’s lucrative spring carnival continued at Randwick with an arrogant victory in the $1m Five Diamonds Prelude.
Wootton Bassett Colt Leads Coolmore G1 Trifecta
The last British Group I race of the flat season was run overnight at Doncaster with Aidan O’Brien producing a trifecta of two year-old colts led by a son of the late Wootton Bassett (GB) in Hawk Mountain, who was too good for a pair of Frankel colts.