CIRCLE OF FIRE Super Impressive for CIARON MAHER in 2600m Gr2 Chairman's Win

08 Apr 24

A winner and stakes-placed three times in Europe when carrying the royal family colours for Sir Michael Stoute, Circle Of Fire (GB) opened his Australian account at his third start for Ciaron Maher to claim his first stakes win in Saturday’s Group 2 Schweppes Chairman's Quality (2600m) at Randwick.

Settling midfield with Dylan Gibbons aboard, the 4-year-old son of Almanzor (FR) came five wide around the home turn and swept to victory defeating Hopeful (FRA) by a long neck, with pacesetter Double Cherry (IRE) one and a quarter length back in third.

With this stakes breakthrough, Circle Of Fire advances his record to: 9 starts: 2-1-2 with earnings of $263,687. The race was vital as he had to win to gain a start in next Saturday’s Group 1 Sydney Cup.

“Dylan’s got a pretty good handle on him now,” Ciaron Maher said

“Just what we do next start, hopefully, all going well, he’ll pull up well, and we’re going to a Sydney Cup.

“I was always confident because he pulled a little bit last start and was able to finish, but I was a little bit nervous.

“Tim Porter and Mick Johnston (owners), I think the colours are a combination of both of them, so they are huge supporters and there’s a lot of others in there.

“He’s had a brilliant prep, he’s improved every run, and he’s a well-credentialled stayer anyway, so hopefully he can sneak in on the minimum.”

Dylan Gibbons said, “He’s just a monster of an animal, he gives you the best feel in the world and the problem is, in these staying races they want to go 12.5, 13 (second furlongs) and he just wants to go 11.5, 12s, Gibbons said.

“So, you get into a bit of a battle with him. I was trying to hang onto him for as long as I could and from the half-mile, I just had to work with him with that light weight and he was very tough late.”

Bred by the late Queen Elizabeth II, Circle Of Fire is a half-brother to the American Gr 3 winner Evening Sun.

He is out of the winning Galileo mare Fiery Sunset.

ALMANZOR (FR) - Shuttle Sire standing at Cambridge Stud NZ.

Circle Of Fire is the 14th stakes-winner for the NZ based Cambridge Stud shuttle-sire Almanzor (FR) who stands in NZ for $50,000.

ALMANZOR (FR) - Champion 3YO Colt in Europe in 2016 (Int.). Champion 3YO Colt in Ireland & France in 2016 (Int.). 8 wins-3 at 2-from 1400m to 2100m, £737,230, €1,901,600, Chantilly Prix du Jockey Club, Gr.1, Leopardstown Irish Champion S., Gr.1, Ascot Champion S., Gr.1, Deauville Prix Guillaume d'Ornano, Gr.2, Chantilly Prix de Guiche, Gr.3, Grand Critérium de Bordeaux, L, 3d Chantilly Prix de Fontainebleau, Gr.3.

He entered stud in France in 2018. He entered stud in NZ in 2018. Leading First Season Sire in NZ in 2021-22. His oldest NZ-bred progeny are 4YOs.
Sire of 360 progeny to race, 181 winners, earnings of over $15 million, 14 stakes winners, 22 stakes placegetters.

Dynamic Syndications at the Magic Millions in 2024 purchased Lot 429 a fantastic staying prospect.

Is this a coincidence we purchased our colt? ….. No way!

Bred in NZ and offered by Cambridge Stud, we purchased a son of

OUR COLT

ALMANZOR (FR) from ANCHOVY (IRE) a daughter of GALILEO to be trained by ….. CIARON MAHER !

The colt comes from one of the BEST FEMALE FAMILIES in Europe, he has crystal clean X-Rays and a perfect Grade 1 Endoscopic evaluation.

Even before the win of CIRCLE OF FIRE – we knew this was a sensational mating offering a Score of A+++ and a Q6 Rating.

We bought him to aim at Derbies; Cups and the $1m Magic Millions Stayers Race.

However there has been three stakes winners bred on this cross to date producing two (2) Gr1 Winners and a Gr2 Winner: AL RIFFA, (Gr1), ZELLIE (Gr1) and CIRCLE OF FIRE (Gr2).

Interesting statistics reveal both Gr1 Winners won their Gr1 races as 2yo’s over 1400m - 1600m.

Now here we are in April, three months after purchasing our colt, and Ciaron Maher has trained the Winner of the Gr2 Chairman’s Hcp over 2600m on Day 1 of the Championships and the horse will line up again next Saturday in the Gr1 Sydney Cup.