‘Superstar’ Observer cements stud future with Guineas success
Shortly after Tempted’s Surround Stakes win, her stablemate Observer (Ghaiyyath) parlayed the success for Ciaron Maher and Godolphin with his classy triumph in the Australian Guineas (Gr 1, 1600m) at Flemington.
The versatile son of Ghaiyyath (Dubawi) claimed the VRC Derby (Gr 1, 2500m) last November and resumed in February with a win over the reopposing Planet Red (Admire Mars) in the Autumn Stakes (Gr 2, 1400m) at Caulfield.
As such, he was sent out the $1.85 favourite to double his Group 1 tally on Saturday, and settled third from barrier six under Ethan Brown. He was eased onto the rail approaching the home turn, and gained a run up the fence upon straightening.
The colt surged through and put his head down to assert late, scoring by a half-length over Planet Red, who charged home for second, finishing 0.2 lengths ahead of a game Sixties (Flying Artie).
Brown, who suffered a lacerated liver and kidney damage when Maximillius (Written Tycoon) crashed out of the 2023 Guineas, explained his patient ride post-race.
“I’m sure the punters were thinking, ‘what’s going on here?’” Brown said of his decision to hug the fence. “But the main thing with him is getting him to relax and settle. That meant riding him cool and patient.
“From there the track was fair, we stuck to the fence and he did the rest. He’s a superstar.”
Maher’s assistant trainer Jack Turnbull paid tribute to the winning rider and said the win carried extra meaning for the stable after Brown’s serious fall in the race three years ago.
“He’s a big part of our team,” said Turnbull. “He rides work, trials, gallops – you can ring him anytime to talk through a horse. He’s a special rider and it’s special we got the job done today.”
Maher previously achieved the similar Derby–Guineas double with Hitotsu (Maurice) and Turnbull drew comparisons between the pair.
“He’s probably the closest thing we’ve likened to Hitotsu in terms of racing style,” he said. “He’s probably not as dynamic, but his ability to be winning a Derby and coming back to be a Group 1 mile Guineas winner at his next preparation is hard to do. You don’t often see it. It’s a credit to the horse, and to Godolphin as an organisation.”
Saturday’s success took Observer’s record to five wins from nine starts, with prize-money earnings just shy of $2.6 million. It opened multiple autumn options, including the Australian Cup (Gr 1, 2000m), Rosehill Guineas (Gr 1, 2000m) and Doncaster Mile (Gr 1, 1600m).
Darley’s burgeoning second-season sire Ghaiyyath will be represented by 17 lots at Inglis Premier, including Stonehouse Thoroughbreds’ Lot 19, a half-brother to another VRC Derby winner in 2018 victor Extra Brut (Domesday).