Kiwi bred and owned mare Etah James (NZ) will head to the Listed Sandown Cup (3200m) on Saturday and trainers Ciaron Maher and David Eustace believe the daughter of Raise The Flag is still on the way up, despite finishing 17th in the Gr.1 Melbourne Cup (3200m).
“She was pretty right for the Cup, but this is only going to be her fourth run of the campaign,” Maher said.
“Glen Boss won the Sydney Cup (Gr.1, 3200m) on her and he jumped on her this morning and was really happy with how she felt.
“She looks really well and I think she is ready to run a big race. She’s a dour two-miler that is very honest.”
The eight-year-old drew barrier 21 in the Melbourne Cup and covered plenty of ground in the first half of the race.
Prior to that run she finished fourth in the Gr.2 Moonee Valley Gold Cup (2500m).
“Her run at the Valley was really good and it didn’t go to plan in the Cup for her, but she is very honest and straight-forward and I think she is still on the way up,” Maher said.
