Socks Nation "2.0" is about to rock the Group 1 Queensland Oaks. (Racenet story)
The mystique of Ciaron Maher went to a new level last year when he conjured a training miracle and masterclass to score the Oaks with $101 bolter Socks Nation.
Few saw it coming, not even Maher's great mate Tony Gollan who questioned what Socks Nation was even doing in Brisbane when he first saw the travelling filly in his stables.
Fast forward 12 months and Maher might have another Socks Nation ready to land a knockout blow and shock punters.
The team of Ciaron Maher and jockey Ryan Maloney, who stunned everyone with Socks Nation, will combine with Dynamic Syndications filly AMPLIFY (3yo f MICROPHONE x SE SAUVER) in the Oaks (2200m) at Eagle Farm on Saturday.
Amplify, a $60,000 weanling was sent to the ATC metropolitan meeting transferred to Wyong on 19 March, where she won a $100,000 Super Maiden, then had a shot at the Gr3 Adrian Knox but was ridden "too close" in the race against her established racing pattern.
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The Ciaron Maher-trained Queensland Oaks hope Amplify (outside) winning her maiden in an ATC Super Maiden transferred to Wyong in March.
To get her back to her racing pattern and get foundation distance into her legs, she was sent to a Bathurst meeting to win a 1800m race two starts ago,
Then at her most recent start on a Heavy 10 over 1800m - AMPLIFY got well back but ran on very well to beat all but the winner Pinto.
Amplify won't go out $101 but after Tuesday's barrier draw was a $34 chance.
Ciaron Maher is on the cusp of a remarkable slice of racing history could be repeated.
Maher said there are similarities between Amplify and Socks Nation.
"Socks Nation seemed to run fourth in everything she raced in before the Oaks, it didn't matter what race we ran her in she still ran well," Ciaron Maher told Racenet.
"Socks Nation to be fair probably shouldn't have been $101, but I wasn't complaining. It was a bit of a roll of dice at the trip, but she was a consistent, hearty, sort of filly.
"Amplify is not too dissimilar and you can draw some similarities through their toughness and their demeanour.
"I quite like Amplify.
"The Bathurst run was to give her some confidence and she has done well since then."
Maher said in terms of the shape of the Oaks this year, it wasn't too different to the previous year when Socks Nation surged to unexpected glory.
David Vandyke's winning machine Philia and Glen Thompson's Australasian Oaks winner Benagil are the fancied ones in betting, but Maher thinks it's an open race.
"The Oaks shapes up similar to last year, there were a couple of shorter ones in the betting market and then the rest of the field," Maher said.
"I think it is a relatively open Oaks, again.
"It's all about timing and I think my filly should present well.
"She ran solidly for second in her last start in The Bracelet (Listed 1800m on a Heavy 10) and that was an indifferent day, the way the track was on the Gold Coast."
Team Dynamic acknowledge the excitement that the Dynamic Ownership Team are feeling ahead of Saturday's Gr1 target:
Dynamic Syndications Racing, Mr A J Mihle, Horsepower Racing, B Ramsey Family, J & KJ Davis Family, Ravo Racing, Mr W B Ramsey, Mr C C Zun, Mr W E Fletcher, Mr A Franza, Mr M P Carroll, Mr S P Carroll
NOTE:
SE SAUVER, by Bel Esprit. 2 wins in 8 starts at 1300m, 1610m, A$192,725,
VRC Edward Manifold S. 1610m, Gr.2, 4th MRC Quezette S. 1100m, Gr.3.
SE SAUVER a Gr2 Winner at 1610m is a Half-sister to ESCADO a Gr1 Winner at 2500m.
ESCADO (g Casino Prince) 5 wins-2 at 2-from 1400m to 2500m, A$864,720,
South Australian Derby, 2500m, Gr.1, Qld Tatt's RC Tattersall's Cup, 2400m, Gr.3,
JRA Cup 2040m, Gr.3, 2d MRC Easter Cup 2000m, Gr.3, SCTC Caloundra Cup 2400m, L, 3d Geelong Classic 2200m, L, 4th VRC Sofitel H. 1400m, L.
AMPLIFY - RACEFORM:
Summary: 6-2:1:0 Prizemoney: $119,175
T 3rd of 7 RHIL 07Jan25 900m Soft6 3Y MDN-BT Zac Lloyd 0kg Bar0
1st Soo Gold 0kg, 2nd Yes Yes Boss 0kg 0:55.48 (600m 34.92), 3.76L
T 3rd of 9 W FM 20Jan25 792m Soft7 3Y+ MDN-BT Andrew Adkins 0kg Bar0
1st Too Many Kisses 0kg, 2nd Wild Thoughts 0kg 0:47.38 (600m 34.17), 0.68L
5th of 8 CANT 07Feb25 1250m Good4 F&M MDN $60,000
($2,350) Andrew Adkins 59kg Barrier 6
1st Scalable (NZ) 58.5kg, 2nd The Stars 58.5kg 1:13.10 (600m 35.63), 3.08L, 6th@800m, 7th@400m, $19/$17/$20/$21
4th of 8 RHIL 26Feb25 1500m Soft5 SUPER MDN $100,000
($5,500) Ashley Morgan 56kg Barrier 8
1st Deal N' Dash 58.5kg, 2nd Wa Wa Wa 59.5kg 1:32.23 (600m 35.41), 4.41L, 2nd@800m, 2nd@400m, $10/$9.50/$11/$10
1st of 8 WYNG 19Mar25 1625m Good4 SUPER MDN $100,000
($59,250) Tim Clark 55.5kg Barrier 3
2nd Bendrodt 57.5kg, 3rd Existential Bob (NZ) 57.5kg 1:38.15 (600m 34.25), 0.22L, 7th@800m, 7th@400m, $4.60/$3.80/$4/$3.90
10th of 15 RAND 05Apr25 2000m Soft5 ADRIANKNOX Group 3 $251,000
($3,500) Mrs Jamie Melham 54kg Barrier 4 Rtg 64
1st Belle Detelle 54.5kg, 2nd Polymnia 54.5kg 2:05.19 (600m 34.00), 5.55L, 5th@800m, 6th@400m, $31/$26/$31
1st of 11 BATH 25Apr25 1800m Good4 CL1-SW $27,000
($19,575) Clayton Gallagher 55.5kg Barrier 6 Rtg 70
2nd Pro Velocity (NZ) 55kg, 3rd Lucky Star 56.5kg 1:51.66, 2.43L, 7th@800m, 3rd@400m, $1.55/$1.70/$1.65/$1.60
2nd of 13 GCST 10May25 1800m Heavy10 GC BRACELET Listed $160,000
($29,000) Blake Shinn 56.5kg Barrier 7 Rtg 65
1st Pinito 56.5kg, 3rd Sun Worshipper 56.5kg 1:53.59 (600m 37.88), 3.3L, 8th@800m, 1st@400m, $15/$14/$20/$21
4 week/s (25 day/s) since last race start