Money Maher Out To Uphold 3YO Record In Kingston Town

Posted on December 6, 2017December 6, 2017 | Posted by Julio Santarelli

Co trainer Ben Pearce believes Money Maher is capable of continuing the dominance of thee-year-olds in the Group 1 Kingston Town Classic (1800m) at Ascot on Saturday.

Three-year-olds possess the best record in the Kingston Town Classic, winning 16 of the 41 races since the first edition was first staged and won by Family Of Man in 1976.

Money Maher, Perfect Jewel and Achernar Star represent the three-year-olds in the Kingston Town Classic, renewing their hostilities after the WA Guineas. (1600m).

Top filly Perfect Jewel reigned supreme against the boys in the Group 2 feature, defeating a luckless Achernar Star by under a length with Money Maher seventh.

But Pearce says Money Maher can rebound and points to the colt’s slashing performance in last month’s Fairetha Stakes (1400m) when he scored a devastating win.

The son of Al Maher launched a blistering finish from the tail of the field and raced away to an explosive win, outpointing runner-up Achernar Star by two lengths.

Pearce is optimistic Money Maher, who has three wins from 10 starts, can rediscover his Fairetha Stakes aura and bounce back from his WA Guineas defeat.

“The race wasn’t run to suit him and he got too far back,” Pearce said.

“There weren’t too many back markers who made up ground.

“He finished the race off strongly and we were pleased with his final sectionals.”

Money Maher, who underlined his potential last season when third to Debellatio in the Group 2 WA Sires (1400m), has drawn barrier two for Joe Azzopardi.

Pearce says from an inside position he expects Money Maher to race handier to the lead.

“I don’t think he can afford to be too far off them,” Pearce said.

“I wouldn’t mind if he was one off and two or three back.

“From the draw I think he will be in a positive position.”

Pearce, who formed a training partnership with his brother Dan at the beginning of the racing season in August, says he has strong faith in Money Maher, but how far he can progress will be determined after the Kingston Town Classic on Saturday.

“We have always had a high opinion of him and thought with maturity he would display a level of improvement,” Pearce said.

“It will be interesting to see where he is at after the weekend against this line up.

“This will tell us how good he is capable of being and determines where we go with him.

“But he has pulled up fine since the Guineas and his work has been good.”

Money Maher is $26 with the TAB.  Perfect Jewel is $7 and Achernar Star $10.