Herbert Power Stakes aim for Herman Hesse
The Ciaron Maher-trained Herman Hesse will now take aim at the Herbert Power Stakes (Gr 2, 2400m) at Caulfield on October 12 after he showed tenacity in spades to win the Listed Ansett Classic at Mornington on Sunday.
Raced by Australian Bloodstock and ridden by Declan Bates, the eight-year-old gelding added a seventh win to his record when he defeated the Symon Wilde-trained Hit The Road Jack (Jakkalberry) by a length. Commando Drift (Complacent) finished a further 1.8 lengths away in third.
“He was very strong, actually even after the line I couldn’t pull him up,” Bates said.
“We landed in a good enough spot, he began OK, we took a bit of time to organise ourselves, just with the outside horses coming around.
“I didn’t want to be snagging him so I had to go with them and let it unfold a bit, he was nice and relaxed … by the 800 metres he started to build and I knew I was going really well.
“As the front two started to tire I didn’t want to really hang around, I wanted to let him stride, he’s ready for this trip now, and wanted to go with him.
“He maintained that all the way to the line and even through the line, so it was a good strong win.”
The Herbert Power Stakes holds a ballot exemption for the Caulfield Cup (Gr 1, 2400m), which takes place a week later.
The win caps of a successful few days for Maher, with the trainer having saddled Southport Tycoon (Written Tycoon) to win the Manikato Stakes (Gr 1, 1200m) and Pride Of Jenni (Pride Of Dubai) to victory in the Feehan Stakes (Gr 2, 1600m) at The Valley last Friday night. While he went without a winner in Melbourne on Saturday, the stable won the Heritage Stakes (Listed, 1100m) in Sydney with Perspiration (Too Darn Hot).