Having won last year’s Australian Cup by two lengths, Ciaron Maher’s Light Infantry Man (Fr) record his third elite level victory and second in this race, taking out the $2.5m G1 VRC Australian Cup (2000m) in a photo finish over stablemate Pride Of Jenni, giving Maher a one-two finish.
When the gates opened, Pride Of Jenni and Just Fine (IRE) crossed the field from barrier 10 and 11 respectively to head to the front, jockey Harry Coffey had Light Infantry Man settled in third position getting the run of the race.
With Pride Of Jenni doing what she does and going many lengths clear to control the race, it appeared as if it would be hard for those towards the back of the field to make up ground late.
Pride Of Jenni cornered about five lengths clear, as the Chris Waller trained race favourite Birdman (IRE) came up alongside the inside where it looked for a few strides that it would be ‘how far’ for the last start G2 Peter Young Stakes winner.
Pride Of Jenni continued to kick strongly and when it was evident that Birdman wasn’t able to match it with the leader, Light Infantry Man raised a challenge with the pair fighting all the way to the line for a photo finish.
Getting his chestnut head down when it mattered, Light Infantry Man went back to back in the race, with Pride of Jenni second while the Ben, Will and JD Hayes trained Apulia worked home well into third with the race favourite Birdman weakening into fifth.
“This horse, he's a unique horse, in the way he has to be ridden,” Maher said.
“Browny understands him well and I asked him to pass on some of that information last start and Harry didn't really get it until he had finished the race.
“He rode him perfect today. The start is very important for him. He blasted him straight out of the gates.
“I don't know who I'm more proud of, the winner or the second horse.”
Initially Maher was going to send him to Randwick for today’s G1 Tancred Stakes, but with Pride of Jenni in the Cup, he knew it would be a truly run race.
“Two of his best wins are when he's raced her,” Maher said.
“It's such a shame for Jenni to run second again.
“I know for (owner) Tony (Ottobre), it's a race he holds very dear to his heart. He strapped back in the day a horse for (Colin) Hayes.
“It's still a race that's eluded her, but she's racing in great heart, and you never know, we may be back here with her next year. She was phenomenal.
"I thought it was going to be a spectacular race and to be fighting it out with two of your own, it's pretty cool."
While he thought he has run second, jockey Ethan Brown was clearly over the moon when he number went up.
“Good horses win the Australian Cup, so it’s great to get the victory, even though I thought we’d been beaten. I thought the great mare beat me and I actually congratulated (jockey) Dec (Bates).”
“My boy comes to the fore in those fast-run, tough races, and he was too good.
“The track conditions and tempo suited today and the trainer knows how to get his horses to peak for these 2000-metere Group 1s like nobody else. I’m just the lucky guy that gets to steer them, occasionally.
“It’s a great race and there've been some bloody good horses that have won it and this guy can sometimes get lost behind the big names but he’s won two Australian Cups now and beaten some good horses in both of them, so full credit to him.”
Taking his overall record to seven wins, and nine placed efforts from 34 starts, the former French Champion 3yo Miler has amassed prizemoney of $5,638,800 for connections.
An original €25,000 purchase at the 2020 Arqana October Yearling Sale, Light Infantry Man was an £82,000 buy for Blandford Bloodstock at the 2022 Goffs Breeze Up Sale.
Bred by Barbara Moser, he is the best of five winners from five to race for the four-time-winning Kyllachy mare Lights On Me (GB).
Light Infantry Man is the best of three G1 winners for his sire Fast Company (IRE), the sire of 42 international stakes performers.
