News

Winslow trainer Ciaron Maher aiming for back-to-back VRC Oaks crowns at Flemington

4th Nov 2015

The Standard - by Tim Auld - Wednesday 4 November, 2015

Ciaron Maher will try to equal the deeds of Australian Hall Of Fame trainer John Hawkes with his classy filly Jameka in the $1 million Crown Oaks at Flemington on Thursday.

Maher, who won the group 1 classic last year with Set Square, hopes Jameka will help him join Hawkes as the last trainer to score back-to-back wins in the famous race. Hawkes’ winners were Tributes in 1999 and Lovelorn in 2000.

Maher said Jameka will appreciate the roomy track at Flemington.

"I've been wanting to get Jameka back to Flemington for all this preparation,” he said.

“She's got a free-flowing big action which will suit Flemington.

"Jameka is a clean-winded horse who is a long strider.

“She showed her liking for Flemington when she won the Sires Produce in March."

Champion jockey Damien Oliver, who rode Jameka to win The Vase at Moonee Valley last month, will ride the three-year-old in the 2500-metre race.

"Ollie has ridden Jameka in three of her four runs in this campaign,” Maher said.

“He was impressed with her win in the Vase. The Oaks is the race that we've set Jameka for in this preparation.

"She's had a consistent campaign, collecting prizemoney at each of her four runs this time in work.

“We have not done much work with her since the Vase. We've just keep her ticking over since that win."

The three-time winning Warrnambool Grand Annual Steeplechase trainer said there were similarities between Set Square and Jameka.

"They give you that real staying ability, lovely action, lovely athletic horses," Maher said.

"Jameka's form going into the Oaks is more solid that what Set Square had last year."

Bookmakers slashed Jameka's price for the Oaks from $7.50 into $4 after she became the first filly since Rockets Galore in 1990 to beat her male counterparts in the Vase.

Maher purchased Jameka for $130,000 at the 2014 Inglis Premier Yearling Sale.