Maher, who trains in partnership with David Eustace, flew to Sydney on Thursday night and will leave the compulsory lockdown on August 20 before welcoming Jack Bruce as his Sydney assistant trainer replacing Annabel Neasham.

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"It's been a very hectic time," Maher told The Standard. "I wanted to come up and catch up with Jack. He'll be a wonderful acquisition to our team.

"Jack is very well credentialled. He's worked in senior roles for Chris Waller and Bjorn Baker. Annabel had done a tremendous job for us.

"I've also come up to have a close up look at how our spring hopefuls for races in Sydney are progressing at our Warwick Farm stables.

"I'll have to go back into lockdown for 14 days when I get back to Melbourne."

The stable had a two state double on Saturday with Exemplar winning an open handicap at Flemington and Anders was successful in a three-year-old race at Rosehill.

"Exemplar is racing in great heart," Maher said. "We originally thought we might win a few jumps races with him but he's won his last two on the flat at Flemington.

"The jumps race and some schooling over hurdles have sharpened him up for the flat races. I think country cups over the next few months will be on the agenda for him."

Anders took his winning tally to three from seven starts when he won a listed $140,000 three-year-old race at Rosehill.

"Anders is an exciting colt," Maher said. "He had trialled up really well before Saturday's run on the back of two wins in May. Our long term aim is a race like the group 1 Moir Stakes at Moonee Valley."

Saturday's win takes Anders prizemoney to more then $205,000.

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