Astute Caulfield trainer Ciaron Maher is quietly preparing his A-team for an assault on the Sydney autumn Carnival.
VRC Crown Oaks winner Set Square has been back in work at his Caulfield stables for several weeks and is being aimed directly at the Group 1 $1 million Australian Oaks (2400m), at Royal Randwick on April 11.
“She has done really well in the paddock,” Maher told Racing Network on Monday.
“She put on some weight after maybe five weeks out and she looks terrific,” Maher said.
“She is being prepared for the Sydney carnival with the Oaks her goal,” Maher said of Set Square, one of the true revelations of the Melbourne Spring.
Remarkably, Set Square was beaten in a Donald Maiden on debut on September 15, before winning a Maiden at Ballarat, the Ethereal Stakes and the Crown Oaks.
Maher also has crack miler Akavoroun also preparing for Sydney.
“He is likely to kick off his campaign in Melbourne but he’ll go to Sydney for the George Ryder and the Doncaster Mile,” he said.
“His rating is still at the right level where we can aim at races like that,” he said.
Maher will have a serious Australian Derby contender in Light Up Manhattan, who ran fourth in the $1.5 million Victoria Derby (2500m).
“He came from a mile back and was the run of the race.
"He’s going to Sydney for the Derby,” he added.