No barriers for Maher as he shoots for Millions double

By Dylan Mutu

Mixed fortunes at the barrier draw on Tuesday haven’t dampened Ciaron Maher’s spirits for more Millions success, remaining confident his lead chances will be ready to fire come Saturday.

The lucrative beachfront event certainly delivered a mixed bag for the Melbourne Cup-winning trainer, with his three-year-old’s Snitzanova and Yes Lulu landing barrier 9 and barrier 17, respectively in the Magic Millions 3YO Guineas.

However, it was Icarian Dream, his headline juvenile and pre-draw favourite for the Magic Millions 2YO Classic, who captured the most public attention after drawing barrier 21.

Despite the challenging draw, Maher remained optimistic about his chances.

“It’s not ideal, but barrier draws are often overdone, I feel,” Maher said.

“The main thing is that the horse is well and has done everything right – so I’m happy with her preparation going in.

“We’ll have to sit down and nut out the race as to how we think it’s going to unfold. No doubt it’s going to be more difficult from out there, but she (Icarian Dream) should be spot on and ready to run a big race.”

Having already captured Magic Millions 2YO Classic success twice with Away Game and Coolangatta in previous years, Maher is tickled pink to be back on the Glitter Strip with a red-hot chance to claim his third.

“It feels great.” Maher said.

“It’s been the plan for Icarian Dream pretty much her whole career to get her back here, and last start, she was quite dominant.

“We wanted to get her up here nice and early, as we’ve done in previous years with our other horses, just to acclimatise and get her into the swing of things – and so far, so good.”

So far, so good indeed, as evidenced by her sizzling win in the Group 3 B.J. McLachlan, where she stormed home in the final stages to cement herself as a genuine contender for this weekend’s race.

A $300,000 purchase at the 2024 Magic Millions Yearling Sale, the filly was always earmarked as a ‘ladies horse,’ and Maher noted that the group of all-female owners are thrilled at the prospect of chasing the $500,000 Magic Millions Racing Women’s Bonus on Saturday.

“Yeah, the best thing about it is that it’s a ladies' horse,” Maher said.

“They’re all excited to be up here and in with a real chance. There’s quite a big team of them, so hopefully they can take home the bonus as well.”

The leading Victorian trainer also has the favourite in the Magic Millions 3YO Guineas, with Snitzanova heading the market after her impressive Group-level run late last year.

After victories in the Group 3 Spring Stakes at Newcastle and the Group 2 Sandown Guineas this preparation, Maher is confident his Snitzel filly will hold her own, despite a demanding travel schedule in late 2024.

“She’s had quite a big spring,” Maher said.

“She won a stakes race in Newcastle and then went down to Melbourne and won another one, and now she’s come up to Queensland – so she is quite well-travelled.

“She’s very fit, she’s very tough, but I’m just sort of managing her, whereas the other one is definitely coming on.”

The other horse Maher referred to is Yes Lulu, about whom he remains quietly confident as a genuine chance in the $3 million feature for three-year-old's.

“Yes Lulu has come back bigger and stronger,” Maher said.

“She was stakes-placed as a two-year-old and then was dominant last start - I think she’s a horse on the up.

“I couldn’t be happier with the both of them (Yes Lulu and Snitzanova), they look to be in really good order after their gallops earlier this week.”

The Ciaron Maher Racing team boasts a plethora of runners throughout Saturday’s 10-race card, including 2024 Magic Millions Cup winner Semana, who Maher thinks is primed for more Millions success.

“I think Semana will run a big race,” Maher said.

“She won this time last year, and I think she's in very good form again.”

Accepted for the Magic Millions Snippets over 1200 metres, the five-year-old looks to be very well-placed to strike.

Maher is also a co-owner of La Bella Boom, a promising filly trained by Tony Gollan and a strong contender for the Magic Millions 2YO Classic, setting the stage for a potentially huge day for the star trainer.