Winning Horse: Saunter Boy (Fr)

8yoG Myboycharlie (Ire) - Marie Des Fleurs (Fr)(Smart Strike (Can))

46 starts - 10 wins 6 seconds 5 thirds 7 fourths $598030

Black Type Placings

3rd LR Saint Cloud Prix Scaramouche 2800m (2018)

2nd LR Le Croise-Laroche Grand Prix Du Nord 2100m (2016)

Other Wins

1st Warrnambool Cartergroup K Lafferty Hrdl 3200m (2021)

1st Sandown-Lakeside Ladbrokes Australian Hrdl 3900m (2021)

1st Pakenham Ecycle Solutions 1Jw Hrdl 3200m (2021)

1st Casterton P Nolte Electrician Mdn Hrdl 3480m (2020)

1st Gb - Newmarket (July) Randoxhealth.Com Handicap 2414m (2018)

1st Compiegne Prix Du Mont Saint-Jean 2800m (2018)

1st Gb - Doncaster Betfred November Handicap 2392m (2017)

1st Gb - Newmarket (Rowley) Cmseven.Com Handicap 2011m (2016)

1st Gb - Goodwood Levin Down Maiden Stakes 1986m (2016)

Race Result:

1st: Saunter Boy (Will McCarthy/Ciaron Maher & Dave Eustace) - $2.40F

2nd: Karakoram (Will Gordon/Chris Hyland) - $10
3rd: Robbie’s Star (Ronan Short/Peter Chow) - $19

Winning Time: 3:50.45 Last 600m: N/A

Margins: 2-3/4L x Nose

Winning Trainer: Ciaron Maher & Dave Eustace (rep by Declan Maher)

“It just goes to show full credit to the team. They’re the people that help us all and get them ready. This horse spent time down at Caulfield and goes to the beach. They’ve done a super job with him. He only came up here (Ballarat) on Thursday just because it was closer and he didn’t have to travel up today.

“Credit to Luke and Jamie from Australian Bloodstock. He’s a lovely horse, this horse, and he’s got some quite good flat ability. To have this type of a horse to go jumping is just sensational.

“Super rid by Willie. I think he’s red hot today. I don’t know what he’s got for the rest of the day but he’s definitely on fire.

“When he ran in the National, this horse, we just thought that he didn’t quite get the trip out being a bit further so we took him back and he seemed to come through it pretty well.

“So Ciaron made the decision that we’d go to this instead of putting him out for the season. It has rounded off his prep beautifully. Super.”

Ciaron’s reaction to a quartet: “He’s rapt. He’s ecstatic. Dave’s the same. The whole team would be. All the strappers are here strapping the horses, getting them all ready to go. Top condition. It’s just super.”

Winning Jockey: Willie McCarthy

“How good is jumps racing! Brilliant. Absolutely fantastic.

“It’s not often I get to ride a horse like Saunter Boy. I was sitting there in quarantine at the start of May and I was watching the (Warrnambool) carnival and I saw this guy running out there and I thought ‘what an amazing animal’.

“I didn’t think I’d be getting an opportunity to ride him here. It was unfortunate Norway had to get scratched this morning I was just privileged to have a ride on an amazing horse.

“Ciaron and Dave, and Declan and all the team, they’ve all made me feel so welcome. It’s just an absolute pleasure to be working with such an amazing team. These horses are the proof in the pudding. They turn them out impeccably.

“You have to be sitting on the right ammunition if you’re driving an old car. You can’t pass up the good ones. These are like driving Ferraris. I’ve been blessed with the opportunity to ride such good horses.

“I’ve been in the game for 20 years and I know what to do on the big days. I can ride them quietly or ride them with confidence. I’ve been blessed with every opportunity I’ve had and I’m delighted to be here at Ballarat and the sun is shining on us today at the racetrack.

“I’ve got family all over the world. I’m widely travelled. My family in Cork in Ireland, my family in Cheltenham, and Caroline in Maryland in the US, I love you all. I’ll be back home to see you all soon. I love you all.”