Strawberry Rock, Promises Kept deliver Hobart Cup quinella to Ciaron Maher

A pair of strong performances in Tasmania on Sunday from Strawberry Rock and Promises Kept has earned Ciaron Maher yet another accolade to add to his long list of them this season. The duo finished first and second in the Group 3 Hogart Cup, giving Maher’s team a quinella in the 2400m event.

Strawberry Rock finished first by just a head over his younger stablemate. Promises Kept, the runner-up, was the clear leader down the stretch before ceding ground to the former import.

He loves that sort of race

Jockey Declan Bates and Strawberry Rock had to work hard down the stretch to close the gap between him and his stablemate. According to Maher’s assistant trainer Jack Turnbull though, the gelding would not have preferred it any other way.

“Strawberry Rock loves that sort of race where there's pressure from one way out,” he said.

“He is a chaser. If he does get to the front too soon, he seems to float a bit.”

Bates also praised the eight year old’s stamina.

“We talked coming into it. Even though the small field there looked to be a couple that might roll along so that worked out to be the case.

“From the top of the straight, I felt like I was going to go and win the race, but Ciaron’s horses are hard to pass, even when you’re on one of his other ones,” Bates said.

“I love coming down here, it’s a beautiful part of the world. Great to get the call up, coming down to ride for Ciaron in these good races. It’s a great position to be in, so if the phone rings again I won’t be saying no,” he added.

No shame in losing for Promises Kept

While Promises Kept finished second to a veteran gelding, Turnbull stressed that he was impressed from what he saw from the five year old.

“Promises Kept was solid,” Turnbull said, before adding, “he only got run down by a better horse who met him a little bit better at the weights.”

Promises Kept was actually the betting sites favourite pre-race, with $3 odds to win. However, Strawberry Rock was not overlooked by the betting market.

The eventual winner had $6 chances of winning from the betting apps, and many Sunday tips pieces had him down as one of the best bets for this race.

Next race planned

Strawberry Rock and Promises Kept have largely stayed together this season. The latter beat the former in the Listed Summer Cup at Hobart in January and have been training together under Turnbull and jockey Briony Deeker Fradd.

“Briony’s done a wonderful job, she’s been with the horses for the past month and it’s been the making with these two geldings this prep, they’ve really thrived at the beach, full credit to the team,” Turnbull said after the race on Sunday.

He also revealed that the horses are planning to run together again in the Group 3 Launceston Cup on February 26 at Launceston.