Ciaron Maher gives good push for Smokin’ Romans in Moonee Valley Gold Cup

Maher could saddle three of the top four in the market, including favourite Gilded Water ($2.80), Berkshire Breeze ($6) and evergreen Smokin’ Romans ($8).

Gilded Water is also entered and favourite for the Group 3 Geelong Cup (2400m) on Wednesday.

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Gilded Water, owned by King Charles III and Queen Camilla, has 54kg in the Geelong feature, also a golden ticket into the Melbourne Cup, compared to 55kg at Moonee Valley.

Maher said Gilded Water would be competitive wherever he lined up, with Geelong the more likely option.

Berkshire Breeze has drawn sweetly in the Gold Cup, barrier six, and boasts form around subsequent Caulfield Cup winner Half Yours.

Berkshire Breeze ran sixth last start in the Cup-qualifying Group 3 Bart Cummings (2520m) behind Valiant King and Torranzino.

Tearaway leader Gilded Water, who tired to run third, turned the Bart Cummings into a battle of attrition.

Maher, who won the Gold Cup last year with Okita Soushi, said Smokin’ Romans could challenge on Friday night.

Smokin’ Romans has barrier 10 in the 14-horse field, which includes four Geelong Cup acceptors.

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“Smokin’ Romans just continues to wind back the clock,” Maher said.

“I reckon he’s in as good a form as ever.”

Smokin’ Romans, the 2022 Group 1 Turnbull Stakes winner, has been a Maher stable stalwart and favourite for several seasons.

The nine-year-old has won 11 of 52 and $2.3m prizemoney.

Smokin’ Romans placed fourth in the Group 2 Herbert Power Stakes (2400m) last start at Caulfield.

“He carried a stack of weight last start and still ran very good, again the race was probably run too slow for him,” Maher said.

“He didn’t get the momentum, even though he was leading.

“He’s got good form at The Valley.”

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Maher has Future History and Melbourne Cup-nominated Middle Earth in the JRA Cup (2040m) at The Valley on Saturday.

Future History won the JRA Cup last year and showed a glimpse of form last start, placed fourth at Caulfield in the Coongy Cup (2000m).

Middle Earth disappointed Maher in the Caulfield Cup last Saturday, finishing 11th of 16 runners.

“I worked him in the shades (blinkers) this morning,” Maher said.

“He could take his place en route to a Melbourne Cup in the JRA Cup.

“A little bit more scratching of the head to do there.”

Originally published as Ciaron Maher gives good push for Smokin’ Romans in Moonee Valley Gold Cup