Maher with strong hand heading to Diamond

Trainer Ciaron Maher has a big team of two-year-olds heading to the major juvenile races.

The powerful Ciaron Maher Racing stable has already had a host of juvenile winners this season and Maher hopes the run continues as he targets the major races

Maher and his co-trainer David Eustace prepared filly Away Game to win the recent $2 million Magic Millions 2YO Classic at the Gold Coast while Golden Slipper favourite Cellsabeel is among the stable’s 10 individual winners of 11 juvenile races this season.

On Saturday at Caulfield the stable will be well-represented when the Blue Diamond series kicks off with the respective Previews.

Debutant Stakes winner Tanker begins his Diamond campaign in Saturday’s Listed Preview (1000m) for colts and geldings in which he will be joined by stablemate Toscanini.

A Beautiful Night and Unstoppabelle chase black-type in Saturday’s Group Three fillies Preview (1000m) with Maher indicating Marchena is likely run at The Valley on Friday night.

“We’ve just got a good team,” Maher said.

“We really went out and purchased quite a few. We exposed ourself a little bit last year at the yearling sales, and our systems are obviously working well.

“Adrian Corboy, our horse breaker, puts a fantastic base on them and the team is just doing a great job with them right through, whether they’re at Ballarat, Sydney or at Caulfield.

“They’re doing very well and long may it continue for the rest of the season.

“It’s all about just trying to place them and get them right for their grand finals.”

After he won the Debutant Stakes in October, Tanker ran fifth as favourite in the Golden Gift in Sydney.

“He had a good trial the other day and his work has been pretty sharp,” Maher said.

“He will improve off the run but he’s right to go on Saturday. I think he’s come on a little bit from last time.”

Toscanini did his best work late for a close fourth over 1140m at Geelong on debut.

“He’ll need every inch of the 1000 metres but he has come on from his first-up run also,” Maher said.

A Beautiful Night impressed winning at Flemington at her second start and Maher believes she can progress in the Diamond series.

“She’s really trained on nicely,” he said.

“I just think in her backyard it’s a great opportunity to get some black-type and then hopefully on to the next one.”

He said Unstoppabelle appeared to be an ideal 1000m-type.

“She’ll land on the bunny and hopefully she gets some of that elusive black-type,” he said.

Waiting in the wings to begin their Diamond campaigns are talented filly Muntaseera and Inglis Banner-winning colt Ideas Man while Rathlin will not run again before the Group One Blue Diamond on February 22.