John Meagher to continue in Brisbane

Multiple Group One-winning trainer John Meagher has announced he will increase his presence in Victoria but he will still play a major role in Brisbane.

Meagher will open a stable at Mornington with a few horses including Group winner Savanna Amour who runs in the rescheduled Bletchingly Stakes at Sandown on Sunday.

Cruising Speed who was second in the Listed Tattersall’s Mile at her last start is also heading south.

But for the time being it will be business as usual for the Meagher stable in Brisbane with several key runners at Doomben on Saturday including Lascar (Tim Bell Memorial), Comacina (Class 6), and Tap This (Open Hcp).

“At this stage I hope we can still have 20 or so horses in Brisbane,” Meagher said.

He said the increasing difference in prize money between Queensland and the southern states was making it hard to attract owners.

The trainer set up at Eagle Farm in 2012 with his sons Chris and Dan who are now in Singapore.

Meagher is best known for winning the 1985 Melbourne Cup with What A Nuisance but has won 17 Group One races in Australian and nine in Singapore.

Apart from What A Nuisance his best horses have included Golden Sword, Star Of The Realm, Ready to Explode, Star Binder, Major Drive and Kaapchat.