Reinstated trainer Ciaron Maher is banking on a quick return to the Group 1 winner’s stall with Not A Single Cent in the Group 1 $1m ATC Sires’ Produce Stakes (1400m) at Randwick on the first day of The Championships on Saturday.
Not A Single Cent, above, has drawn the outside barrier in the ATC Sires Produce Stakes at Randwick. Photo by Ultimate Racing Photos.
Maher will step back into the head of his Caulfield operation after serving a six month suspension as a result of the ownership bona fides of Group 1-winning mare Azkadellia.
Stand in trainer Aaron Purcell will have to relinquish the reins after doing a terrific job which netted the stable two Group 1 wins during the 2017 Melbourne Spring Carnival in Maher’s absence.
Aloisia was able to claim the Group 1 $500,000 Schweppes Thousand Guineas (1600m) at Caulfield while Merchant Navy arrived with a wet sail to win the Group 1 $1m Coolmore Stud Stakes (1200m) at Flemington on the first day of the four day Melbourne Cup Carnival.
Maher was at Randwick on Tuesday morning to supervise Not A Single Cent’s gallop at Breakfast With The Stars in preparation for the ATC Sires Produce Stakes.
“It’s good to be back – it’s a bit like riding a bike – I handled it (first day of trackwork) no problem at all,” Maher said.
“I thought he worked well.”
The lightly raced Not A Single Cent has only been to the races on two occasions for a debut fifth at Caulfield on February then won the Group 2 $200,000 MSS Security Sires’ Produce Stakes (1400m) at Flemington on March 10.
Blake Shinn takes the ride on Not A Single Cent who will need more than his share of luck from the outside barrier in the fifteen horse ATC Sires Produce Stakes field.
“He drew the car park but he’s a quality horse on the up,” Maher said.
“He’ll improve with racing. It’s only his third start and he’s hit the line well at his first two.”
Maher will also saddle up Villermont in the Group 3 $200,000 China Horse Club Carbine Club Stakes (1600m) and Pretty To Sea in the Group 3 $200,000 Adrian Knox Stakes (2000m).
Not A Single Cent is listed as an $11 chance for the ATC Sires Produce Stakes with Ladbrokes.com.au who have the Golden Slipper runner up Oohood as the $3.50 favourite.
The Tony McEvoy trained Oohood is yet to win a race from five attempts but has been Group 1 placed on two occasions and as well as finishing second to Estijaab in the $3.5m Longines Golden Slipper (1200m) at Rosehill on March 24 was placed third behind Written By and Enbihaar in the $1.5m Ladbrokes Blue Diamond Stakes (1200m) at Caulfield on February 24.
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