Maher Well Represented This Weekend

The Ciaron Maher trainer Ruthven (Aus) (Domesday {Aus}), a leading candidate for Saturday's G1 Queensland Derby will have the services of Hugh Bowman, the leading Group 1 rider in Australia this season. Ruthven was partnered by Mark Zahra last time when second to Volatile Mix (NZ) (Pentire {GB}) in the G1 UBET South Australian Derby at Morphettville last month but Maher was obviously keen to utilize the services of Bowman when he rang to offer his services. Bowman has ridden 12 Group 1 winners this year and has already teamed up with Maher for top level success in the past having ridden Jameka (Aus) (Myboycharlie {Ire}) on her last two starts including when bolting up in the G1 The BMW at Rosehill in March. Ruthven also finished fourth in he G1 Australian Derby at Randwick in April and though he will again lock horns with Volatile Mix on Saturday Maher is hopeful he can bridge the half length gap that separated the pair on their last outing. “We kept him racing after Sydney because he's a big, raw horse who is improving with each run and his run was very good in Adelaide,” he said. “He had to do it both ends and was very strong through the line.”

Although he has lost the mount on Ruthven Mark Zahra can look forward to partnering Maher's recent New Zealand recruit Aloisia (NZ) (Azamour {Ire}) in the G1 JJ Atkins S., also at Doomben on Saturday. The 2-year-old filly made a big impression on her only Australian start when winning at Flemington May 20 and Maher is looking forward to stepping her up in grade at the weekend. “The Atkins was in the back of our minds when we brought her over but just in the way she won at Flemington just gave us the confidence to go,” Maher told Racing.com. “She's a clean-winded horse who'll probably get over ground in time and if the track was to be a little bit testing, it would probably suit her.”