The three-year-olds have a solid record over the older gallopers in recent Kingston Town Classic history but there are big odds on offer for Money Maher in this year’s edition of the weight-for-age classic.
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Jockey Joseph Azzopardi (pictured aboard Crucial) rides Money Maher in the Kingston Town Classic 2017 field on the weekend in Perth. Photo: Race Horse Photos Australia.
There are a trio of three-year-olds in the mix for Saturday’s Group 1 $1 million Magic Millions Kingston Town Classic (1800m) and the Daniel & Ben Pearce-trained Money Maher is the longest-priced of the youngsters.
At $6 and firming through Ladbrokes.com.au is the ultra-consistent Grant & Alana Williams-trained Perfect Jewel on 50kg and coming off the Group 2 W.A. Guineas (1600m) win a fortnight ago.
Runner-up in that same lead-up was the Simon Miller-trained Gingerbread gelding Achernar Star, 20-year-old hoop Chris Parnham aboard the $11 shot from a gun barrier four draw this weekend.
Money Maher meanwhile is listed as a $26 outsider in the latest Kingston Town Classic odds, markets dominated by Darren Weir’s five-time Group 1 winning seven-year-old Black Heart Bart ($3) drawn the rails.
Al Maher colt Money Maher is also drawn well in the Kingston Town Classic barriers jumping from one on the outside of the favourite, gate two last producing a winner in 2013 with Ihtsahymn.
Ihtsahymn is one four three-year-old Kingston Town Classic winners since 2007, with the filly Perfect Reflection (2015) the latest.
Also a WA Guineas graduate, Money Maher finished just over four lengths back seventh in a somewhat disappointing effort over the mile.
That followed a previously very good win over Achernar Star in the Listed Fairetha Stakes (1400m) by two lengths as a $15 outsider on November 11.
Jockey Joseph Azzopardi takes over in the saddle on Saturday and co-trainer Ben Pearce said that Money Maher had pulled-up from the WA Guineas well.
“He pulled up well from that run so we thought we’d have a crack,” Pearce told The West Australian.
“This race will determine whether he stays a colt or we geld him and look at the Derby next year.”
The Group 2 $400,000 WATC Derby (2400m) takes place over the mile and a half at Ascot in early April.
The Kingston Town Classic field meanwhile is down to 14 starters with the early withdrawal of Adam Durrant’s widely-drawn Silverstream (15).
A foot abscess has ruled the six-year-old Al Maher mare out of the Group 1.
Recent winner of the Group 2 Lee Steer Stakes (1400m) over Great Shot, Silverstream subsequently ran a flat 13th behind that upset winner in the Group 1 Railway Stakes (1600m).
Should she recover in time, the Karnup-based Durrant plans to run Silverstream Saturday week in the Group 3 AJ Scahill Stakes (1400m).
Check out the updated Kingston Town Classic 2017 odds online now through Ladbrokes.com.au.
