Racing
Maher’s 7 Stakes assault
Maher Group 1 winners to tackle Sydney $1m mile.
Group 1 winners Gringotts and Light Infantry Man will represent Ciaron Maher in this weekend's $1 million 7 Stakes at Randwick and the master trainer hopeful each has a better experience than their previous clash.
The pair resumed on August 23 in the Group 1 Winx Stakes won by Via Sistina, with Gringotts finishing fifth, beaten 2-3/4 lengths, while Light Infantry Man failed to beat home any of his rivals.
Gringotts started $5.50 but never threatened as a winning chance after copping some interference and Maher was delighted with what he saw from him in an 1200m Wyong trial on Monday last week.
"He will improve a fair bit off his first run," Maher said.
"My other horse (Light Infantry Man) ended up getting on his heels and then they revved him up and he revved himself up and it all just went pear-shaped. It wasn't ideal."
The last time Gringotts was second-up he landed his maiden Group 1 victory, in the 1500m George Ryder Stakes at Rosehill on March 22.
He narrowly defeated Fangirl in that event and that Chris Waller-trained mare is one of 13 potential rivals in the 7 Stakes.
Maher has also nominated Detonator Jack, while Joe Pride-trained pair Ceolwulf and Private Eye are among the other entries.
The Heavy 10 track and overracing in the early and middle stages was blamed for Light Infantry Man's Winx Stakes effort under Ethan Brown and Maher is excited about seeing him take his next step in his progression to the Cox Plate.
"His best win was on that really hot tempo in the Australian Cup," Maher said.
"He went early off a hot pace. 'Browny' put him into the race early and I thought that was a bold move considering how fast they went, but he thrived on it so that's the way I was thinking.
"Maybe through a Hill (Stakes) and down for that. That's the rough plan."
The 7 Stakes is the headline event on a Randwick card that also includes the $1 million Group 2 The Shorts (1100m), in which The Everest contenders Joliestar, Briasa and Private Harry will get their campaigns underway.
One horse missing from the entries for that race is The Shorts winner Headwall, who sustained an injury at the weekend and has had his spring campaign thrust into doubt.
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