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By Ray Hickson

Could Ciaron Maher have a leftfield contender for the Golden Slipper in the form of State Visit?

Ciaron Maher (Pic: Bradley Photos).

The colt didn’t have any favours at his debut at Canterbury late last month but was able to overcome inexperience and a tight run, only getting clear near the 150m, to score and Maher said he has obvious potential.

So he heads into the Group 3 $250,000 TAB Pago Pago Stakes (1200m) as a $51 chance in the Golden Slipper, and needing the exemption, and while Maher might not have that race in the forefront of the mind that could change if he can repeat the performance.

“He was very impressive in his first run,’’ Maher said on SEN.

“He’s got a big action and it’s quite a tight track and I thought he might have needed a little bit further to put it all together.

“But he showed his class and ended up winning that race quite easily.”

State Visit, $11 with TAB on Thursday, settled back in the field at Canterbury and became strung up coming to the home turn but when Jason Collett got him into the clear he surged home.

The move to Rosehill is a positive for Maher as he’s resigned to giving away a start again from the outside barrier but he warns not to underestimate him on Saturday and to keep an eye on him for the future.

While he needs that win to make the Slipper field, should connections want to back up, he has been kept safe at $15 in the Group 1 Inglis Sires’ (1400m).

“He’s drawn out and that’s going to make it a little bit tougher as well but as I say he does like a bit of room,’’ Maher said.

“He’s an interesting horse, doing it all on raw ability at the moment, it wouldn’t surprise if he’s able to get away with it.”

Reigning Sydney Cup winner Circle Of Fire is pleasing Maher as he works toward a defence next month and he’s expecting improvement in the Group 3 $350,000 Asahi Super Dry Sky High Stakes (2000m).

While he only beat two home in the Parramatta Cup when resuming, Maher said a smaller field and the added fitness should allow him to be more prominent.

“He’s very much on track, he’s heading toward the Sydney Cup again,’’ he said.

“He thrived last year in the autumn and he’s in a similar space this time around. He has a good draw, he’ll land on speed, he will run well.”

Import New Energy posted his first Australian win back in November and Maher is confident this preparation he can build on it as he’s a horse that’s shown promise since he arrived.

That said he’ll require a smart steer from Kerrin McEvoy in the Group 2 $300,000 Hyland Race Colours Ajax Stakes (1500m).

“He has trialled up well and I do feel he’s a bit like your Light Infantry Man type horse who has taken a little while to settle in,’’ he said.

State Visit wins at Canterbury on February 21

“He’s much more settled and much more conditioned. This will be his prep but things have to go right for him as well.”

Maher said Perspiration will want some juice to stay in the Rosehill track for his resumption in the Group 3 Ikon Services Maurice McCarten Stakes (1100m).

“The track will be interesting for him, he just likes that little bit of cut out of it. If he gets that I’d say he’ll stretch, if it’s firm he’s not as effective,’’ he said.

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