Loving Gaby will be set for Sydney autumn riches after claiming the group 1 $500,000 William Reid Stakes, 1200m, at Moonee Valley on Friday night.
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"I wouldn't say a race like the Golden Eagle, similar to what Sunlight did, mightn't be out of her reach given she has been to the mile," Caulfield/Ballarat trainer Ciaron Maher said.
"But the TJ (Smith) has always been the plan first."
Maher, who trains Loving Gaby in partnership with David Eustace praised the ride of Craig Williams at the Valley.
"It was a brilliant ride
"I thought the key to this race was the start. He had to be quite forceful with her and I think that was the difference. It was her night tonight," he said.
All of Loving Gaby's 12 career starts have been in group company, for four wins - including the group 1 Manikato Stakes at Moonee Valley last spring - five seconds and a third for $2.281m in stakes.
Maher and Eustace had a double at the Valley and with 43 victories on city tracks is within one win of David and Ben Hayes, and Tom Dabernig at the top of the Victorian metropolitan trainers' premiership.
They lead the state table.
They were unable to continue their luck in Sydney on Saturday though.
Despite having starters in the $3.5m Golden Slipper, Maher and Eustace had to settle for second with Away Game, which has been the star of a big contingent of two-year-olds for the stable this season.
JOCKEY Dylan Dunn took riding honours at Avoca on Saturday with a treble on the nine-race program.