3 minute read

Art Suceess and Pentacolo will lead the charge for Oakbank for trainer Ciaron Maher after they ramp up their campaigns with key runs at Sandown.

Ciaron Maher-trained stablemates Art Success and Pentacolo will round out their Oakbank preparations when they contest different events at the opening of the jumps season at Sandown.

Art Success will contest Wednesday's opening race, the Like Sportingbet Park on Facebook Steeplechase (3300m), while Pentacolo lines up in the Celebrate Easter Saturday at Caulfield Hurdle (3300m).

Both will spearhead Maher's six to eight-horse team for the traditional two-day Oakbank Easter carnival where they will clash in the Von Doussa Steeplechase (3250m) on April 7 and the Great Eastern Steeplechase (4950m) on April 9.

Maher's headline act Al Garhood, who has won the last two Grand Annual Steeplechases, will also head to Oakbank but will only clash with his stablemates in the Von Doussa.

Art Success won the 2010 Yalumba Hurdle at Oakbank and will be having his first steeplechase start at Sandown.

"I think he will be better over the bigger jumps," Maher said.

"He seems to concentrate a bit more over them."

Maher was impressed with the way Art Success schooled over fences at Sandown on March 16 when he was beaten in a photo-finish in a two-horse trial by 2010 Australian Steeplechase winner Tarawera.

"He has come up very well and he should improve off that school," Maher said.

Condition won't be a worry for Art Success who last start finished fifth on the flat over 3000 metres at Moonee Valley.

"It was probably his best run for a while with him looming into it late and running home well," Maher said.

Pentacolo has competed at two Oakbank carnivals and won the 2009 Great Eastern Steeplechase.

He also finished fourth in 2010 but didn't compete last year.

He has also run well in two Von Doussa Steeplechases, finishing second in 2010 and fifth in 2009.

Pentacolo will be having his fifth campaign start on Wednesday and last start finished second in a Mount Gambier Hurdle on March 22.

"We are just getting a few race miles into his legs before he heads to Oakbank and he did run well at Mount Gambier," Maher said.

"The Sandown race this week has a lot more depth though and he will be better over fences."