Co-trainer Ciaron Maher is hoping Cliff’s Edge can enhance his future stallion prospects with a win in the Group 1 $1m New Zealand Bloodstock Memsie Stakes (1400m) at Caulfield on Saturday.
Cliff’s Edge, above, is chasing his first Group 1 win in the Memsie Stakes at Caulfield. Photo by Ultimate Racing Photos.
Cliff’s Edge has had two runs back from a spell for a first up third in the Group 3 $160,000 The Big Screen Company Bletchingly Stakes (1200m) at Caulfield on July 27 and Maher is hoping the five year old stallion can go one better after a gutsy second to Tassie star Mystic Journey in the Group 2 $200,000 P.B. Lawrence Stakes (1400m) at Caulfield on August 17.
“With any stallion, a Group 1 beside his name would give him a good after-life,” Maher told racing.com during Tuesday morning trackwork.
“I always thought the Toorak would be a nice race for him, but given how the prep’s gone and how well he went last start, it’s (Memsie Stakes) obviously a target for him.
“He’s made good improvement into his second run and I think he’s only improved again fitness-wise.
“Obviously, he went great last start behind a very good horse (Mystic Journey) so with that horse not there, hopefully he can go one better and get that elusive Group 1 for himself.
“He seems to really enjoy Caulfield. He’ll bowl along and put himself there.”
Cliff’s Edge has raced in Group 1 company on five occasions with his best results being a fifth in the $600,000 Sky Racing Rosehill Guineas (2000m) at Rosehill during 2018 Sydney Autumn Carnival as well as a fifth in the $500,000 Aquis Toorak Handicap (1600m) at Caulfield during the 2018 Melbourne Spring Carnival.
Cliff’s Edge most recent Group 1 outing resulted in a sixth, two and a quarter lengths behind Best Of Days, in the $1m Kennedy Mile (1600m) at Flemington on the first day of the 2018 four day Melbourne Cup Carnival.
Early betting at Ladbrokes.com.au for the Memsie Stakes has Cliff’s Edge well in contention at $7 behind the James Cummings trained Alizee at $2.80 and Bletchngly Stakes winner Scales Of Justice at $7.
Maher and co-trainer David Eustace will also saddle up last year’s Memsie Stakes winner Humidor who will be having his first run for the stable and his first run since finishing third to Winx in the 2018 Group 1 $5m Ladbrokes Cox Plate (2040m) at The Valley last October.
Early betting for the Memsie Stakes at Ladbrokes.com.au: $2.80 Alizee, $6 Scales Of Justice, $7 Cliff’s Edge, $8 Hatrnell, $10 Begood Toya Mother, $15 Fundamentalist, Humidor, $17 Sesar, So Si Bon, $21 Despatch, Kenedna, $26 Black Heart Bart, Oohood, Qafila, $41 Aloisia, Material Man, $61 Vassilator.
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