Merchant Navy, who was trained by Maher for most of his Australian career and also had a brief stint with Aaron Purcell when Maher was suspended, runs in the Diamond Jubilee Stakes for champion trainer Aidan O’Brien on Saturday night.

O’Brien’s son Joseph, the winning trainer of last year’s Melbourne Cup, puts the polish on Light Pillar for Maher and a group of mates under the Rafferty’s Rules ownership syndicate and it is running in the Queen Alexandra Stakes on the same night.

Maher purchased Light Pillar from respected French trainer Andre Fabre late last year.

The lightly-raced four-year-old has had two runs under Maher’s banner for a victory in Ireland and a second placing in England.

The four-time Warrnambool Grand Annual Steeplechase-winning trainer has hopes of a forward showing from Light Pillar in the Queen Alexandra Stakes that will lift his ranking for some of the rich staying races in Melbourne over this spring. 

Light Pillar is expected to enter Maher’s Caulfield stable in July to prepare for the races.

DESPITE Locktoba Rocks running last in a $120,000 three-year-old fillies’ race at Moonee Valley on Saturday, Camperdown trainer Gary Tobias was happy with the effort of the lightly raced filly.

“It was a great experience for Locktoba Rocks,” Tobias said.

“She had no luck. She’ll learn a lot from that run.

“She’s still immature and I’m sure once she puts it all together she will develop into a handy type of horse.”

Tobias’ thoughts were echoed by the stewards by the reading of their report which reads in part:

“Locktoba Rocks commenced awkwardly and was then severely hampered after being bumped heavily by Tarcoola Spirit, which had been taken outwards by Layel resulting in Locktoba Rocks losing ground. She was hampered inwards by Tarcoola Spirit, which shifted in and then near the 100-metre mark Locktoba Rocks was hampered by Stylish Missile.”

Locktoba Rocks, a $1600 purchase by Tobias two years ago, has earnt more than $20,000 on the back of an impressive maiden win at Swan Hill.

“I was really happy with her Swan Hill win,” he said.

“She was shin sore for her debut run at Colac back in December and then returned with a nice effort at Werribee.

“She had trialled up well. She’s been a strong-minded filly who has taken a bit of time. She’s been a slow learner.

“It was a 1000 metre race at the Valley but I’m confident she’ll get a strong 1400 metres with a bit of time.

“I don’t want to run her on a synthetic track so I’ll be looking for a suitable type of race on a grass track over the next few weeks.”

SIMON Ryan will use a restricted flat race over 2300 metres at Ballarat this Sunday as the final stepping stone for his jumper Dormello Mo to run in the $100,000 Thackeray Steeplechase at Warrnambool on July 8.

Dormello Mo, who won three consecutive jumping races last season, had a tumble at his last start at Casterton after running sixth in the Brierly Steeplechase at the Warrnambool May Carnival.

“Dormello Mo had no luck in the Brierly,” Ryan said.

“He ran into a bit of trouble in the run which cost him a lot of ground and then he came down at Casterton.

“The Thackeray has been on the agenda for a fair while. We worked him on the synthetic track at Warrnambool last Saturday and his work was very strong. Dormello Mo needs the flat run at Ballarat to clean him up for the Thackeray.”

Dormello Mo’s stablemate Police Camp, a last start restricted steeplechase winner, is being set for a restricted chase at Warrnambool on August 9.

“Police Camp had a week off after his win at Warrnambool,” he said.

“I have not wanted to overtax him. He’s been in work for a fair while and done lots of schooling. Our goal is next year’s Warrnambool Grand Annual Steeplechase. We aim to just take him along slowly as we focus on the Annual.”

Police Camp has won one of his 13 race starts.

FORMER Crossley trainer Mitch Freedman had a winning double at Bendigo on Saturday. 

Freedman, who now trains at Ballarat, was successful with favourite Gregorian Chant in a maiden plate and $17 chance Geodesic won a restricted race.

JOCKEY Jackie Beriman will start a seven-race meeting suspension following Warrnambool’s race meeting on Thursday.

Beriman pleaded guilty to a careless riding charge after her ride on Loreto at a race meeting at Geelong last Friday.

Stewards found she permitted Loreto to shift out when not sufficiently clear of Arapaho Alidor resulting in that horse being tightened for room.

Her suspension starts at midnight on June 21 and ends midnight June 28.

Stewards took into account Beriman’s guilty plea, good record and her forthright evidence before handing down the final penalty.

DANE THUNDER: his three runs from a spell are full of merit. He hit the line hard in a 1200 metre race at the Valley on Saturday. He’s ready to win again.

WIDGEE TURF: classy galloper who scored a strong victory in a sprint race on Saturday. Widgee Turf has won nine of his 19 starts and more are in store.

GREY SHADOW: missed the start and was a good thing beaten at the Valley. She’s got plenty of improvement in her so another win would not surprise. Keep on following her.

MISS LEONIDAS: impressive winner at the Valley. It may have been a race in the depth of winter but going by her win she may measure up to tougher company in the early spring.

JARROD FRY: has to rate as one of the most underrated jockeys in the state. Fry manages to fly under the radar but still boots home numerous long priced winners – just like the $17 pop Geodesic at Bendigo on Sunday.