Ciaron Maher has a real affinity with the stock of Myboycharlie (IRL) and he has another one for the collection in the French import Azuro (FR).
The OTI Racing colour-bearer resented been restrained in the first part of Saturday’s $150,000 Listed Sandown Cup (3200m) before Mark Zahra managed to switch him off.
Set alight at the 1000 metres, Azuro hit the lead coming three-wide in to the straight and he kept up a relentless gallop to defeat his stablemate Wall Of Fire (IRE) (Canford Cliffs) by one and a quarter lengths with Neufbosc (FR) (Mastercraftsman) a half-neck back in third.
It was Azuro’s third win in four starts over 3,200m, which included his only other stakes win, the Listed Queensland Cup at Eagle Farm and he was second to Yogi in last year’s Sandown Cup.
The 6yo son of Myboycharlie (IRE) advances his record to 7 wins, 5 seconds 5 thirds from 31 starts with earnings of $563,154.
Maher, who trains in partnership with David Eustace, said he found it difficult to separate his two runners.
"I didn't think there was much between them and it showed," Maher told AAP.
"The other horse, Wall Of Fire, came home strongly late but credit to Azuro. He's got an impressive record over the two miles now.
"He'll have a little rest now and probably head on to the Sydney Cup."
A winner at Chantilly and a two-time winner at Maisons-Laffitte before initially joining the Darren Weir team, Azuro (FR) was a 12,000 euro Arqana yearling. He is the best of five winners from as many to race out of the winning Okawango (USA) mare Anthropologie who is a half-sister to the Listed Prix Yacowlef winner and Group III Nell Gwyn Stakes third Roseanna (Anabaa).
Anthropologie's dam Dancing Rose is a half-sister to Danedrop the dam of the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe and King George VI And Queen Elizabeth Stakes heroine Danedream.
Azuro is one of 20 stakes-winners for the former Vinery Stud and Bowness Stud shuttler Myboycharlie (IRE) (Danetime).
