Maher, Eustace in premierships contention

Training partners Ciaron Maher and David Eustace are chasing national premiership honours.

With less than two months of the Australian racing season remaining, co-trainers Ciaron Maher and David Eustace find themselves in premiership battles on more than one front.

The stable won three Group One races this season, courtesy of Loving Gaby’s sprint double at The Valley in the Manikato Stakes and William Reid Stakes while Etah James won the Sydney Cup during the Sydney autumn.

But the stable’s winners have been spread far and wide during 2019-20 with Maher and Eustace closing in on 240 wins nationally for the season after Saturday’s meetings and are in a tight tussle with Sydney’s premier trainer Chris Waller in the national standings.

Eustace said the national premiership had not been something they initially thought about but believes it would be a reward for the staff if it could be achieved.

“I think it would just be a big well done to the team,” Eustace said.

“Not us in any way, but it just shows what teamwork can achieve.

“We have runners spread far and wide and you can’t do any of that without having a lot of people in different places.

“I think more than anything it would just be a great lift and a deserved lift for them if we were able to get the national one.”

After a winner at Flemington and another at Casterton on Saturday, Maher and Eustace have moved to 191 wins for the season in Victoria, one behind the Lindsay Park stable at the top of the Victorian statewide premiership.

The win of Persan at Flemington got Maher and Eustace one-win closer to Lindsay Park in the Victorian metropolitan premiership, but they still trail by 10.

The season runs until the end of July.

“There’s a lot of planning going on at the moment to try to catch Lindsay Park in the metro premiership which is proving difficult the last few weeks,” Eustace said.

“But we haven’t given up hope.”