Maher pair to meet at Flemington

The Ciaron Maher stable will kick off the campaign of Holymanz (NZ) (Almanzor) at Flemington in the hope that it may lead to richer spring purses. 

Holymanz, and stablemate St Lawrence (NZ) (Redwood), run in the Flemington Kentucky Bluegrass Handicap (1410m) on Saturday. 

Beaten just over 7-½ lengths behind stablemate Pride Of Jenni (Pride Of Dubai) in the All-Star Mile (1600m) at his last appearance, Holymanz could be on trial for a start in the Gr.2 P B Lawrence Stakes (1400m) at Caulfield on August 17. 

Assistant trainer Jack Turnbull said Holymanz had prepared well for his return and is looking for a positive first-up showing with improvement to come. 

“We could have given him a third trial and gone into the P B Larence first-up, but we thought we’d run here and look at that, pending his performance,” Turnbull said. 

“Longterm, something that we have mapped out for him is something like the Toorak Handicap (Gr.1, 1600m), down in the handicap, or even something in Sydney like the Five Diamonds (1800m). 

“The mile is his trip, and he still has a rating that will get him into a handicap somewhere down near the bottom. 

“He’s a proper little racehorse. He tries and he didn’t disgrace himself in the All-Star Mile, so if he continues to improve, he could be in for a fun prep.” 

Turnbull said St Lawrence had been a little frustrating with four sound efforts this campaign, including three placings, two of which have been at Caulfield in his past two starts. 

He is hoping a change of venue may bring about a change of luck. 

“In his last race, he got back into an awkward spot, and it was a little bit messy around the bend, and he never got organised,” Turnbull said. 

“But he was at a track that was racing very on-pace and that made it hard for him to get there. 

“He’s in good order, he’s at a different track, so hopefully it might be a different result.”