Zahra, Maher combine for double on Victoria Derby Day

MELBOURNE – Observer came home with a dominant win in the A$2 million (S$1.7 million) Group 1 Victoria Derby (2,500m), one of three Group 1 races at Flemington on Nov 1, but it was his jockey Mark Zahra and champion trainer Ciaron Maher who hogged the limelight on Victoria Derby day.

The Melbourne Cup-winning hoop was at his fourth win in a row on the $8 favourite.

Zahra first booted home the Danny O’Brien-trained Getta Good Feeling ($8) in the Group 2 Wakeful Stakes (2,000m), followed by Warnie ($21) for Maher in the Group 2 The ABC Bullion Damien Oliver (1,400m) before he went on to take out the first of his two Group 1 wins at the meeting: the Coolmore Stud Stakes (1,200m) aboard the Anthony and Sam Freedman-trained Tentyris ($18).

Besides Observer and Warnie, Maher landed his third win and a Group 1 double in the Empire Rose Stakes (1,600m) with eight-year-old mare Pride Of Jenni ($31), who also won the 2023 edition with jockey Declan Bates up.

Maher was thrilled to see Observer land his maiden Group 1 victory following the Ghaiyyath three-year-old’s win in the Group 2 Moonee Valley Vase (2,000m) on Oct 25, after his luckless third in the Group 1 Caulfield Guineas (1,600m).

“I think the sky’s the limit for this colt, he’s just so adaptable,” said Maher.

“He was unlucky in the Guineas. He’s won a Vase and now he’s won a Derby, and he’s pretty similar to his old man.

“I’m rapt with our team. Mark is a great mate, he’s riding on a real crest of a wave and there’s nothing better than to win the Derby on Derby Day.”

Maher also claimed the A$3 million Russell Balding Stakes (1,300m) with stable favourite Jimmysstar ($12) at Randwick on Nov 1.

The showpiece event at Sydney’s meeting was the A$10 million Golden Eagle (1,500m), which was taken out by trainer Chris Waller’s bombproof four-year-old mare Autumn Glow ($7), who is eight-from-eight.

Owned by powerhouse outfit Godolphin Stable, Observer held a ¾-length margin over outsider Arcora (John Allen) on the line while another roughie, Deal Done Fast (Daniel Stackhouse) finished the same margin away in third.

Zahra made full use of barrier 4 to take Observer to the front, even if he was hesitant about leading at the colt’s first run over the trip.

“I ‘umm-ed’ and ‘ahh-ed’ whether to lead, but speaking to Ciaron, he gave me great confidence,” said Zahra.

“I heard him say, ‘he’ll run it, so if you want to lead, just do it’. He never switches right off, he’s always on the bridle, but he’s tough.

“He’s just like his old man and late, when they got to him, he found again.

“It’s great riding for the best trainers. They do their job, I do my job and what a great day.”

It was a first Victoria Derby success for Zahra and second for Maher, who won the 2021 edition with Hitotsu. RACING AND SPORTS