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Australia's powerhouse trainer Ciaron Maher is launching his first Hong Kong raid with emerging speedster Recommendation in the Gr.1 LONGINES Hong Kong Sprint at Sha Tin on 8 December.
The Victorian handler's stable star has been firing on all cylinders, rattling off a hat-trick of Group Three victories at Caulfield this term. The 5YO gelding's impressive tally of nine wins from 22 starts has garnered prize money north of US$670,000.
Previous winners of this prestigious sprint include the legendary Silent Witness, who claimed back-to-back victories in 2003-04, while Lord Kanaloa dominated in 2012-13, later proving himself one of Japan's greatest sprinters.
Maher's operation, boasting over 400 horses across Victoria and New South Wales, has been making waves internationally. The stable recently celebrated a remarkable double when Duke De Sessa claimed the US$3.4 million Caulfield Cup and Bella Nipotina stormed to victory in the US$13.1 million The Everest on the same day.
"Got a heap of clients coming up and all the owners are pretty well up and about," Maher said. "The horse seems in good form, but the local [Ka Ying Rising] might be hard to beat."
The Australian conditioner is set to reunite with former co-trainer David Eustace, who has made a flying start to his Hong Kong career. Their partnership yielded over 1,560 winners including 30 at Group One level, highlighted by Gold Trip's 2022 Melbourne Cup triumph.
"I will be catching up with Dave for sure and he has started very well," Maher said. "And we'll be having a chat for sure."
While a jockey booking remains pending, Melbourne Cup-winning rider Mark Zahra could take the reins, adding further firepower to the Australian assault. Zahra is already committed to Without A Fight in the Gr.1 LONGINES Hong Kong Vase.
Maher's international ambitions extend beyond this initial foray: "Plenty of people have travelled over there before and it will be good to take Recommendation up, and I'm looking forward to the challenge."
The trainer touches down in Hong Kong on 1 December to oversee final preparations, having previously visited last year's International meeting with a touring party of stable clients. This time, he's bringing serious ammunition to the US$3.3 million sprint feature.