Maher hopeful Sayedaty Sadaty makes Cup field after Bendigo win
Ciaron Maher is optimistic Sayedaty Sadaty can sneak into next Tuesday’s Melbourne Cup (Gr 1, 3200m) after claiming the Bendigo Cup on Wednesday.
Sitting 35th in the Cup ballot prior to the win, the gelding’s victory should see him edge closer to a start, though he may still need to be re-handicapped to secure his spot in Flemington’s $10 million feature.
The success continued Maher’s remarkable Bendigo Cup record – his third win in four years. His previous winners, Interpretation (Galileo) and High Emocean (Ocean Park), both progressed to Flemington, finishing sixth and third respectively.
Sayedaty Sadaty, who arrived in Australia last year, ran in the Caulfield Cup (Gr 1, 2400m) straight off the plane, an experience Maher said “did not work out”. This campaign, however, has been about grounding the horse and building stamina for two miles.
“The Archer run was very good and then that next one, it just didn’t suit him that race shape at all when the other horse took off,” Maher said. “It can bottom a horse when they’re in a race like that but that’s why I’m just rapt for the team.”
“We always target this race, and the horses have run well [in the Melbourne Cup] that have run well in this race…High Emocean, Interpretation. Hopefully this horse is another one. We’ll just tick him over now and hopefully he gets a spot.”
Should he make the field, Maher will need to find a new jockey, with Coffey already booked to ride Moonee Valley Gold Cup (Gr 2, 2500m) winner Onesmoothoperator (Dialed In) in the Cup on November 4.