The import that reminds Maher of Melbourne Cup winner

Champion trainer Ciaron Maher is loving what he has seen from talented import Augustus.

The Australian Bloodstock purchase from Germany finished second in a trial at Caulfield under Mark Zahra on Wednesday as he potentially heads towards this year's Melbourne Cup.

The five-year-old is nominated for the Australian Cup (2000m) at Flemington on March 28 and is tuning up nicely for that assignment in the eyes of Maher.

He sees plenty of similarities with Gold Trip who won the Melbourne Cup with Zahra in the saddle for Aus Bloodstock in 2022.

“Augustus is going well, he trialled very nicely at The Heath,” Maher said on SENTrack & RSN’s Giddy Up.

“I just like the way he’s coming together. He reminds me a little bit of Gold Trip. He moves similar, he’s a similar type horse.

“Mark gave him a good report the other day, so it was great to see Mark back at the trials from his little (leg) injury.

“I think he should just keep improving, that horse.”

Augustus is currently priced at $17 by Sportsbet for the Australian Cup next month and $51 for the 2026 Melbourne Cup in November.

Gold Trip's Cup triumph was the second time Australian Bloodstock had struck with an international purchase after German raider Protectionist won the 2014 edition for Andreas Wöhler.

Will history repeat with Augustus?

A more proven stable star for Maher is Observer who is the $2.25 favourite for this Saturday’s Group 1 Australian Guineas (1600m) at Flemington.

The three-year-old colt was excellent in winning the Group 2 Autumn Stakes over 1400m first-up at Caulfield and has come on since that impressive triumph.

“I’ve been rapt with him,” Maher said of Observer.

“He needed that run just to bring him on. He was very impressive, he went forward in his usual style.

“He’s grown up a little bit mentally as you’d hope. He’s come through it really well and has impressed me since then. All signs are positive.

“He’s always a free-going horse, just like his sire (Ghaiyyath). He’s a quality horse and he showed when he came back (last start).”

Will Observer look to make his own luck up on the speed?

“Naturally he’s going to land in a forward position. With Browny (Ethan Brown) on he’ll roll in a forward position.”

Maher says the options are open for Observer who could head to Sydney for the ATC Derby in April or stay in Melbourne.

“He could stay against the three-year-olds and go to Sydney or take on the older horses in Melbourne.”

Maher suggests stablemate West Of Swindon will improve in the Guineas after running sixth in the Group 3 CS Hayes (1400m) which was stylishly won by Observer’s main danger in Sixties.

Maher’s $100 stable mail this weekend would go on Tempted in the Surround Stakes (Race 7) at Rosehill all-up into Nails Murphy in Race 6 at Eagle Farm. (And he suggested to perhaps even throw in Observer).

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