Spywire talking tactics
Champion trainer Ciaron Maher has flagged a potential change of tactics with Magic Millions 2YO Classic spearhead Spywire.
The Trapeze Artist colt, whose colours were lowered last start at Wyong, is slated for Gold Coast dress rehearsal on Tuesday as Maher plots a third 2YO Classic in five years.
Maher, who won the auction house-restricted race with Away Game (2020) and Coolangatta (2022) previously, also has twoyear-old filly Erno’s Cube qualified for the $3m Gold Coast main event.
“He’s in good order, he’ll have a good trial Tuesday,” Maher said.
“He galloped last Tuesday and galloped really well.”
Spywire has led in his two starts to date, a dominant maiden win at Rosehill and the Wyong defeat.
Highness, an $8 equal third favourite with TAB for the 2YO Classic, alongside Parkour, who surged into contention with victory last Saturday at Randwick, roared past a stargazing Spywire at Wyong.
They all need to beat boom colts and market leaders Storm Boy ($3.20) and Straight Charge ($4), both trained by Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott, on January 13 at Gold Coast. Early favourite Spywire eased $6 to $11 after Wyong.
“He’s been ridden forward because of the way races have panned out,” Maher said.
“If he’s able to draw a gate Gai’s horses, the two favourite horses, will be pinging out on the speed, if he finds a bum he will drop his head, I’m still very happy with him.”
With Spywire assured a start in the 2YO Classic, multiple horses higher on the prizemoney-based order of entry are either spelling or aimed at the Group 1 Blue Diamond Stakes at Caulfield on February 24, Maher was happy to go into the Gold Coast race five weeks’ between runs.
Last year’s winner Skirt The Law, trained by Queenslander Tony Gollan, saluted with a six weeks gap after the races were postponed due to weather.