The return of the Cups King

[Wandering Eyes]

Cups king Mahrajaan made his first public appearance in more than 12 months when he finished third behind Group One winner Provence in his 1100m heat at the Ellerslie trials on Thursday.

He was victorious in the 2023 edition of the Gr.3 New Zealand Cup (3200m) before winning the Gr.2 Auckland Cup (3200m) at Ellerslie four months later, placing the imported son of Kitten’s Joy at the top of New Zealand’s staying ranks.

Trainers Shaune Ritchie and Colm Murray decided to test his talent in Australia, where he finished last in the Gr.1 Sydney Cup (3200m) before returning in the spring where he beat just two runners home in the Gr.2 Herbert Power Stakes (2400m).

He was set to line-up in the Gr.1 Melbourne Cup (3200m), but those dreams were dashed after he was withdrawn on veterinary advice, and he hasn’t been sighted publicly until Thursday’s hit-out.

“It has been a long road,” Ritchie said. “We were taken out of the Melbourne Cup by the vets on the morning of acceptances, which was a little bit disappointing, but they have their rules, and we didn’t want to risk the horse.

“From that point, we decided to give him a little bit of a break. We put him on the water treadmill, mucked around with him and gave him plenty of time, and now he is on track for the Auckland Cup.”

Ritchie has been pleased with the way Mahrajaan has returned and he was buoyed by his trial performance this week.

“He looks unbelievable, he has put a huge amount of weight on, the majority of it muscle, which is great because he is going to need to carry a bit of pudding in the Auckland Cup,” Ritchie said. “He won’t have the luxury of being on the bottom of the handicap anymore.

“His trial was fantastic. He hasn’t been presented for over 12 months publicly at all, so to come out and run third to a Group One winner was great.

“He never really came off the bridle and Sam (Weatherley, jockey) came and galloped him before he went to the trials and he said he feels like an open class sprinter. Obviously raceday kicks in and he is a genuine stayer.

“He seems to be in the right sort of order and I think we are aiming at the right race. If we stick to our target, hopefully we hit the mark in the grand final. He will be uncompetitive over the shorter distances on his way through, but he has won two races in New Zealand over two miles, so that’s his obvious forte.”

Stablemate Eye Candy also made her first public appearance of the season at the Ellerslie trials, and while Ritchie was less upbeat about her 1100m hit-out, he said it was good to get a line on her at the start of her preparation.

“We toyed whether to trial her or not, she was only just ready,” he said. “She is a big, thick-winded mare and she was as a three-year-old, so she was well in need of that. I would suggest she is going to need another trial before we present her at the races.

“She has had a day out and that is what we wanted to do. We have obviously got some work to do to get her fitter before we present her on raceday.”

Eye Candy had a pleasing three-year-old term, placing in both the Listed Oaks Prelude (1800m) and Gr.3 Sunline Vase (2100m), and Ritchie is hoping she can return to that level.

The stable was also represented at the trials by Group Two winner Nereus and Alaskan, who were unplaced in their 1100m trials.

“I am delighted with Nereus,” Ritchie said. “I thought he was really attacking the line after the post, he didn’t want to pull up. The signs of his willingness have certainly not gone away and he is going to be a lovely Cups horse for us over the summer.

“He spelled terrific. He has never been a horse who has been a big, strong horse, but he is carrying more condition than he has ever carried before. We are really looking forward to him when he gets over a mile and further. He has run the odd cheeky race first-up as well.

“He is a really nice handicapper who has been a genuine good horse for the stable.

“Alaskan is a mare early in the season I thought might get to a New Zealand Cup, but she disappointed us at the trials and races, so we had to back off and start again.

“I was looking for an improved effort from her (at the trials) and I think we got that. Her first trial was substandard and then we took her to the races at Ruakaka after taking her to the beach and doing some work with her, but she was very disappointing.

“The track was a bit off and we know she needs it dry, but having said that, she has looked fantastic and she has had a summer coat, one of the first ones to come through with a summer coat.

“She presented in great order yesterday, but that just gives us the confidence to go back to the races and being low in the grades, in a 65, we will find a nice mile for her. If she is anywhere near her best she will run well.”

View the full article