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By Ray Hickson

Trainer Ciaron Maher finds it hard to split his stable’s duo in Saturday’s $2 million Inglis Millennium (1100m) at Royal Randwick but says the track condition could do that for him.

Trainer Ciaron Maher (Pic: Steve Hart)

Maher and co-trainer David Eustace have Inglis Nursery winner El Padrino and Boldhino, who was an unlucky fourth in the same race, and while he's not fussed on the conditions for the former it’s the latter he says doesn’t want significant rain around.

The TAB market on Wednesday had El Padrino at $9.50 and Boldhino at $10 but speculation about the weather aside Maher said both youngsters have had ideal build ups into the Millennium.

“They are very straightforward horses, pretty well rounded and there’s not a lot between them actually,’’ Maher said.

“That was probably highlighted last start, one was a bit unlucky and the other one got the run and got the job done.

“The preparation has gone relatively smoothly so far.”

Clearly the Inglis Nursery (1000m), run back on December 11, showed both colts have plenty of talent.

El Padrino sat three and four wide and kept going while Boldhino travelled sweetly behind the speed but was cut out of a run at the 150m by his stablemate when attempting to get into the clear.

Whether he would have won it is debatable though Maher errs slightly on the side of probably not.

“It makes it interesting doesn’t it. It’s a line ball. He certainly would have been right in the finish,’’ he said.

“If I didn’t have the winner you’d probably say yes.”

Both horses trialled at Warwick Farm on January 20 and it was evident then to Maher that the ground is going to be vital to Boldhino’s chances.

El Padrino, with Tommy Berry in the saddle in the trial, won his heat on a soft 7 while Boldhino, also partnered then by Berry, finished third and wasn’t particularly happy.

“Tommy said El Padrino felt really nice, stretched well and did everything as you would hope,’’ Maher said.

“The first run by El Padrino was very good on a wet track, he obviously handles that, but was just as effective on the dry the other day.

“The track was very wet at the trials and Tommy said Boldhino’s going great but he’s not as comfortable on that surface.”

Just ahead of Boldhino in his trial was last week’s runaway Widden Stakes winner Queen Of The Ball.

Berry rides Calgary Stampede, who was runner-up in the Inglis Nursery, for the Snowden camp on Saturday so Maher has booked Jamie Kah for El Padrino while Hugh Bowman again partners Boldhino.

El Padrino wins the Inglis Nursery on December 11

Of course Maher and Eustace have the season’s benchmark two-year-old to date in unbeaten filly Coolangatta and he feels the Millennium is an even race where luck in running could prove the difference.

“Sejardan is the favourite for a reason but there’s probably not a lot between half a dozen of them really,’’ he said.

“Both our horses begin well, make their own luck. They’ll be just behind the speed somewhere, hopefully getting out when they want and getting a clear path into the race.”

Meanwhile, Maher said Coolangatta will have just one run before next month’s $5 million Longines Golden Slipper, where she’s $4 favourite with TAB, and that’s in the Group 2 Sweet Embrace Stakes (1200m) at Randwick on February 26.

All the fields, form and replays for Saturday's Randwick meeting