Maher enters Interpretation in Bagot Handicap ahead of New Zealand trip

After entering four horses in November’s Group 1 Melbourne Cup, Ciaron Maher has opted to send just one galloper to Flemington this Wednesday.

The leading trainer has selected Interpretation to be his team’s sole entrant in the Listed Bagot Handicap at Flemington.

That race will also serve as a jumping off point for the gelding ahead of his upcoming trip to New Zealand for a pair of 3200m races in January and March.

Maher’s team looking for bounce back performance

It’s too early to say what chances the horse racing betting market will give Interpretation for the Bagot Handicap this Wednesday.

However, it is clear that Maher and his team are hoping to see more from the galloper this week than they saw in his last few runs.

The seven year old finished in a disappointing 15th place in the Melbourne Cup back in November. He has not raced since.

Before the Melbourne Cup, Interpretation finished runner-up in the Group 3 Geelong Cup in October, his highest finish since November 2023 when he won the Group 3 Bendigo Cup to earn his first and only win on Australian soil.

Interpretation has finished higher than sixth just once since November 2023.

Prep for New Zealand trip

This Wednesday’s race will be the final preparations for Interpretation ahead of his upcoming spell in New Zealand.

Maher Racing assistant trainer Jack Turnbull says keeping busy is exactly what Interpretation needs at this stage in his career.

“He’s run in three Melbourne Cups, so he’s very seasoned, and he was one that had a week off, 10 days off and then we just kept going with him,” Turnbull said.

“Horses like that –Ciaron is an avid believer that they don’t need to have long time off– They’re mature, they’re sound, so we keep going from there.”

“It’ll be an interesting race for him to kick off in and then head over to New Zealand,” Turnbull added.

If all goes well in NZ, the gelding could be entered in more Australian Group One races next season.

Okita Soushi sidelined

Of Maher’s four Melbourne Cup gallopers, Okita Soushi –who finished third in that race– looked the most likely to race at Flemington this Wednesday.

It was a bit of a shock then that Maher picked Interpretation over the seven-year-old stallion.

However, reports claim that the trainer did consider racing Okita Soushi.

The Sydney Cup in April remains a long-term goal for him and Maher’s team, but it's unclear which race Maher has planned for his rising star next.