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By Ray Hickson

Trainer Ciaron Maher says there’s a bit riding on Gold Trip’s performance in Saturday’s Group 1 $1.5m Kia Tancred Stakes (2400m) at Rosehill away from the obvious status and prizemoney the race brings.

Trainer Ciaron Maher (Pic: Steve Hart)

On the back-up after running fifth in Dubai Honour’s Ranvet Stakes last weekend, Maher said the Tancred will decide which race he points the six-year-old towards at The Star Championships next month so he’s calling on blinkers to liven him up.

He last wore them in the Cox Plate but the shades came off for his Melbourne Cup win.

Maher said the Ranvet effort was solid enough and it’s clear that Gold Trip will relish going to a staying distance with some give in the ground so is expecting him to bounce back.

“The winner seemed to be in a different class but up to the 2400m should be ideal and he’s come through it well,’’ Maher said.

“He’s had the blinkers on before, I thought they will help him travel a little bit.

“These are his target races, the Ranvet and the Tancred. This run will determine what his next run will be.”

Gold Trip holds entries for both the $5 million Longines Queen Elizabeth Stakes (2000m) and the $2 million Schweppes Sydney Cup (3200m) where he has top weight of 59.5kg.

Whether the Ranvet was simply a flat second-up run after a big return on a firm track when second in the Peter Young Stakes (1800m) remains to be seen.

“It’s hard to put a rating on his first-up run,’’ Maher said.

“There was a runaway leader, Steinem was probably in the right spot, he was a pair behind, and they’ve beaten Keats by a length. So is the form that strong, I don’t know, but I was happy enough with his run in the Ranvet.”

Maher, who co-trains with David Eustace, is expecting a big performance from three time Derby winner Explosive Jack as he continues his comeback in the Tancred, with blinkers also going on him.

The five-year-old had a year off the scene after the 2021 spring but his eye-catching second in the Canberra Cup (2000m) two weeks ago told Maher he’s back on track.

“We’ve taken our time with him. I was half tempted to put the blinkers on for the Canberra Cup but I resisted,’’ he said.

“I really like the way he let down over the last couple of hundred. He’s shown glimpses of his old form there.

“He’s got a good foundation on him, shades on, Johnny (Allen) on, 2400m, he’s not the worst chance that’s for sure. I’d say he should bounce off that back to the mile and a half.”

Gold Trip was $4.20 favourite for the Tancred on Friday with Explosive Jack a $26 chance.

The covers come off imported mare Times Square in the Group 3 $200,000 Racing And Sports Doncaster Prelude (1500m) and Maher said plenty will be learned from her performance.

Gold Trip's run in the Ranvet Stakes

She’s won two from eight and was a last start Listed winner over 1400m at Longchamps on a heavy track back in October and hasn’t been given any trials or jump outs, just galloping work, ahead of her Australian debut.

“She’s got some very good form, she appreciates a bit of cut in the track,’’ he said.

“She’s been ready to go for a couple of weeks but they’ve been warm days and firm track so I’ve just kept our powder dry and it looks like we may get conditions to suit.”

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