Maher eyes Navy races

TRAINER Ciaron Maher has Group 1 aspirations for threeyear-old Merchant Navy who is set for a stakes-race return at Caulfield.

Unbeaten in three starts, Merchant Navy is set to run in Saturday’s Group 3 HDF McNeil Stakes over 1200m.

Merchant Navy won on debut over 1200m at Pakenham in March before graduating to 1400m with victories at Sandown and Flemington a month later.

Following Saturday’s firstup assignment, Maher is eyeing two Group 1 contests, one in Sydney and one back in Melbourne, providing he runs up to expectations.

Maher is thinking about the Golden Rose (1400m) at Rosehill on September 23 and the Caulfield Guineas (1600m) on October 14.