Latest News

By Ray Hickson

The task ahead of comeback galloper Eliyass in Friday’s Listed $250,000 Wyong Gold Cup (2100m) isn’t lost on the Ciaron Maher stable but it’s also an important race for the rest of his spring.

Johann Gerard-Dubord (Pic: Bradley Photos).

If the eight-year-old can post his second win for the stable with 62kg it’ll the shatter the record of 59kg held by Lion’s Roar (2024) and Destiny’s Kiss (2017).

Maher’s assistant trainer Johann Gerard-Dubord said races like the Group 3 Kingston Town Stakes (2000m) and Group 2 Hill Stakes (2000m) are ahead for Eliyass so Wyong fits in well with those plans.

“Last start we were able to claim, which I think made a big difference, the weight is the only concern but this race will work well for the rest of the prep,’’ he said.

“In his next few starts he gets back to set weights and penalties where he’ll be better placed.

“He’s been faultless all preparation, if anything he looks better all the time. He’s in a really good spot.”

Eliyass was on the sidelines for over a year and required screws in both front legs but showed no signs of any issues winning the Premier’s Cup Prelude (1800m) at his second run since joining Maher.

It’s naturally been a long, slow, build up to full fitness and Gerard-Dubord said he’s an enthusiastic horse who enjoys his work and it’s no surprise that he’s regained form so quickly.

When part of the Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott stable, Eliyass won his first three Australian starts including the Kingston Town and he was placed in the Group 1 Turnbull Stakes.

“He’s been very sound since we’ve had him. He started the prep at the beach at Bobs Farm which helped,” he said.

“He just loves life, that makes everything a lot easier for us. He gets all bouncy before he works, he gets strong in his work and just loves it.

“We were confident he’d run well first-up, his work leading in was very good, but the short trip combined with the wide trip he was a bit plain to the eye.

“Getting to the right trip second-up was always going to work in his favour but you need to see them do it race day. Since then he’s come on again.”

Nash Rawiller takes over from apprentice Shannen Llewellyn in the Wyong Cup and he’ll have the option to repeat the tactics that paid off second-up.

“He raced with cover a lot of the time when he was with Gai and Adrian but the other day there wasn’t a lot of speed and Ciaron was keen to roll forward,’’ he said.

“Wyong is that sort of track where you need to be on speed so we have that option.”

Maher elected to miss the Wyong Cup with Amplify and go to Saturday’s Listed $200,000 Drinkwise Cup (2400m) at Randwick.

The mare won the Tygalgah Cup at Murwillumbah a couple of weeks ago for her first win since December.

Eliyass wins at Randwick on August 8

“She’s been a bit on and off this prep but it was a nice race for her last start,’’ Gerard-Dubord said.

“So it was good to get a bit of confidence with a win. At her best we know she has plenty of ability so hopefully that confidence booster will help to get her back to her best and she can be competitive.”

All the fields, form and replays for Friday's Wyong Cup meeting