Trainer Ciaron Maher has revealed that Mr O’Ceirin has thrived since arriving in Brisbane and said that he is wrapped with the tough gelding heading into the 2014 Doomben Cup this weekend.

Mr O'Ceirin has the chance to score his maiden Group 1 victory in the 2014 Doomben Cup this weekend. Photo by: Race Horse Photos Australia

Mr O’Ceirin started his campaign with an eleventh place finish over an unsuitable distance in the Group 3 Victoria Handicap (1400m) at Caulfield on April 19 and clearly relished the step-up to 1800 metres when he finished second behind Streama in the Group 2 Hollindale Stakes (1800m) at the Gold Coast on May 3.

Maher told RSN this morning that Mr O’Ceirin had taken plenty of benefit out of his run in the Hollindale Stakes and believes that the Postponed gelding can produce an even better performance when he steps up to 2000 metres for the Doomben Cup on Saturday.

“He was very good, he has had a really smooth preparation and he has come up well,” Maher said.

“He seems to really thrive when he travels and it was the same when he went to the Gold Coast and he has done well since.

“Last year when we took him up to Grafton, it was the first time that we had travelled him and he really thrived on the second leg and he just seems to have done the same thing again.

“I think that a mile and a half is his ideal distance, but he has a fantastic record at 2000.

“Doomben is a tightest track, but he had a gallop there on Tuesday and seemed to handle it no worries.

“It is an interesting race, but I am wrapped with him going in.”

Mr O’Ceirin was ridden just behind the leaders in the early stages of the Hollindale Stakes before jockey Glen Boss attempted to steal the race coming around the turn and Maher said that he will be leaving the riding instructions up to Boss once again.

“He is actually very easy to ride Mr O’Ceirin,” Maher said.

“He generally goes the same pace each start and you just ride him as to how he is going, it doesn’t really make any difference whether he leads or doesn’t lead.

“He races just as effective either way and Glen knows him really well, so I will just leave it to him.”

Mr O’Ceirin will step-up to 2200 metres for the Group 2 Eagle Farm Cup (2200m) on May 31 and will have the final start of his 2014 Brisbane Winter Racing Carnival preparation in the Group 2 Brisbane Cup (2400m) at Eagle Farm on June 7.