Victoria Derby winner Observer returned from a break to claim a first-up victory in the Group 2 Autumn Stakes (1400m) at Caulfield on Saturday. The Ciaron Maher-trained colt, ridden by jockey Ethan Brown, started as the $4 equal favourite and held off a late challenge from Planet Red ($4.40) to win by 1-¾ lengths. Victorius Spirit ($51) finished third, a further three-quarters-of-a-length behind.
Observer, who won the Victoria Derby last November, was given a perfect ride by Brown. The colt will now target the Group 1 Australian Guineas (1600m) at Flemington on February 28. Jack Turnbull, National Assistant Trainer for Ciaron Maher Racing, said Observer had matured significantly from the spring to his autumn campaign.
“We’ve taken the norton bit off and decided to go with the lugging bit today,” Turnbull said. “To begin like he did and then for Ethan just to go with him and be in that position and travel so kind, it was good to see from our end. Then to respond and quicken, first-up off a Derby prep and so lightly raced, it was exciting.”
Turnbull added that the Australian Guineas is Observer’s early grand final, and the team will map out a plan for the three-year-old after that race. Brown, who rode Observer to an unlucky third in the Group 1 Caulfield Guineas last spring, praised the training effort. “He can be a bit dour, but his last gallop was super,” Brown said. “Ciaron has switched him on at the right time.”
