LIGHTLY-raced filly Srikandi gave Ciaron Maher his first stakes winner in Queensland when she won the listed $150,000 Silk Stocking (1200 metres) at the Gold Coast on Saturday.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
In a big day for the Winslow trainer, Maher’s Mr O’Ceirin ran second behind top-class mare Streama in the group 2 $350,000 Hollindale Stakes (1800 metres).
The former jumps jockey said both horses looked like they would have successful winter campaigns in Queensland.
“I was very happy with how Srikandi and Mr O’Ceirin ran on Saturday,” he said.
“Srikandi dominated her race. She dictates how the race is run. She has always shown us ability. Her only defeat was when she ran second at the Valley and she beat herself.
“There are some really nice black type races for Srikandi over the next few months up here including the Lady Of The Turf and the Dane Ripper. Both races offer great prizemoney and black type status which is terrific for her breeding prospects in the future.”
Mr O’Ceirin won the Grafton Cup last year before embarking on an unlucky Melbourne spring campaign. The six-year-old resumed at Caulfield over 1400 metres last month but Maher always had a Queensland winter trip on his agenda which includes the Group1 $500,000 Doomben Cup on May 17.
“I missed the autumn races in Melbourne and Sydney with him. I had the Queensland plan in my mind for a fair while for Mr O’Ceirin. I thought his run in the Hollindale was super. It should clean him up for the Doomben Cup.”
Champion jockey Glen Boss rode both horses on Saturday.
Srikandi picked up $96,000 in stakemoney for her win while Mr O’Ceirin added $60,000 to his prizemoney with his second placing.