Ciaron Maher happy to fly under the radar

Jameka has taken a back seat in the publicity stakes ahead of Australia’s richest race, the Melbourne Cup.

The Ciaron Maher-trained mare was the talk of the town following her three-length win in the Caulfield Cup on October 15.

However Winx has since scored a record breaking eight-length Cox Plate win and Oceanographer shot to prominence with his Lexus Stakes win at Flemington on Saturday.

Jameka is now an easing $8 third favourite behind the $5 top elect Hartnell and Oceanographer at $6.50.

But Maher is quite happy for Jameka to fly under the radar.

“She’s in great order, I’m very happy with her,” Maher said.

“Price, other horses, other form lines, money rolling in, it doesn’t make any difference to her at all.”

She is the only Australian-bred horse in the 24-horse field, bringing her stamina into question against the European staying bloodlines.

Maher is convinced she will get the extra 800m of the Melbourne Cup based on the way she won the Caulfield Cup (2400m).

“The best part of her latest starts has been her last furlong (200m) which gives you a lot of confidence going into a two mile race,” Maher said.

“Two miles is unlike going from 1600 (metres) to 2000 metres.

“It is a jump and not a lot of horses get two miles, but I think she’s got the qualities to do it.”

Maher said Jameka was a credit to his staff and the systems in place at his Pakenham complex where the mare was broken in and he was not concerned by her weight of 54.5kg.

“She’s a big strong horse,” Maher said.

“It’s a handicap and it’s going to have some effect on her, but how much, who knows.

“Good horses do extraordinary things and she seems to be one of those.”