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By Ray Hickson

Trainer Ciaron Maher can’t answer the burning question about Gringotts’ ability to handle a heavy track with any certainty but he can say he’s had the preparation he’s wanted going into Saturday’s Group 1 $1m Winx Stakes (1400m) at Randwick.

Trainer Ciaron Maher (Pic: Bradley Photos).

Gringotts has continued to improve with each preparation and had his biggest moment to date in the autumn when he won the George Ryder at Group 1 weight-for-age in March.

The gelding has won down to a soft 7 but in his 21 starts he hasn’t faced a track like what he’ll race on in the Winx.

“He wouldn’t have come across those conditions too much,’’ Maher said.

“There’s no indication that he won’t handle it and it probably comes down to being fresh up and how well they travel. The last one off the bridle that handles it is close to the winner.”

Maher has given Gringotts, $6 with TAB on Friday, two barrier trials at Gosford to have him ready for the 1400m first-up and he said he has every reason to think he’s not done climbing the ladder.

He does know the six-year-old fires fresh, evidenced by unlucky near misses in his two first-up runs last season.

“It was a bit of a breakout campaign last prep, it was a pretty star studded field he was able to defeat in the Ryder,’’ he said.

“He’s come up equally as well, has he furnished a little bit - it's hard to say. He’s a very sound horse and hasn’t had a lot of racing.

“I’ve been very happy with his trials, he certainly seems every bit as strong if not a bit stronger.”

While there is some doubt about Gringotts on a heavy track, Maher seems less fazed with the conditions for Light Infantry Man.

The dual Group 1 winner hasn’t raced on a wet track in Australia but has experience from his days in Europe with Maher pinpointing a Group 3 race at Newbury early in his career as a guide.

“He’s one horse I know will relish the conditions,’’ he said.

“His win in the Australian Cup was pretty outstanding given the tempo. He’s got a big engine that horse and he never really gets tempo that suits him.

“And in that Australian Cup he was one of the few horses that were smiling with the tempo.”

Like Gringotts, Light Infantry Man has trialled twice at Gosford on his way to the Winx.

Emerging stayer Juja Kibo showed his wet track prowess with an impressive victory at Rosehill three weeks ago and now eyes a hat-trick in the Gold Coast Turf Club Trophy (2400m).

Maher was impressed with how the five-year-old import picked himself up after he had his momentum stopped on a heavy 10 and would like to think his ceiling is still a way off.

“He was great the other day. He’s one of those northern hemisphere horses that has come out and is maturing and getting through the grades,’’ he said.

“I thought the race was over, he showed a bit of his class and ended up winning easily enough on the line.

“He’s had a bit of racing and a mile and a half on a heavy track shouldn’t worry him.”

Gringotts wins a trial at Gosford on August 7

Juja Kibo rises 3kg on his win after the claim for Braith Nock.

Ciaron Maher on Corniche (race 9): “He’s been up at the beach. He’s an established wet tracker who came in good form. He gets a few favours, especially with the run under the belt and given the track.”

All the fields, form and replays for Saturday’s Randwick meeting