Mazu to join Ciaron Maher’s stable after McEwen Stakes start

Mazu will move to Ciaron Maher’s stable after he runs in Saturday’s Group 2 McEwen Stakes at Flemington, Joe Pride has confirmed.

Pride told SEN’s Giddy Up With Gareth Hall that the eight-year-old gelding will stay in his care for Saturday, when Rachel King rides him from barrier eight with 58.5kg in an eight-horse field.

It will be Mazu’s second change of trainer. He joined Pride from Peter and Paul Snowden in December 2023. For the Snowdens he had won seven races from 23 starts, including the 2022 Doomben 10,000, and earned more than $7.7 million.

Under Pride, the Maurice gelding became the first horse to win the Hall Mark Stakes three years running, in 2024, 2025 and 2026. He opened this preparation by leading throughout to win the $1 million The Shorts over 1100 metres at Randwick on September 19. He then finished tenth, beaten 6.3 lengths by Tempted, in the Premiere Stakes on October 3.

Owned by Triple Crown Syndications and partners, Mazu was a $180,000 purchase from the 2020 Inglis Classic Yearling Sale. He has 11 wins, four seconds and nine thirds from 48 starts and $11,472,220 in prize money.