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Just how good is Maher’s $5 million Cox Plate hope?
Connor Scanlon • July 16th, 2026 11:31 am
Ciaron Maher has won the Cox Plate once before with Sir Dragonet in 2020, but he could be in for his second triumph in that prestigious 2040m race.
Ciaron Maher Racing has reportedly splurged $5 million on one of the northern hemisphere’s most talented colts, A Boy Named Susie, who is trained by Donnacha O’Brien.
The son of Starspangledbanner has one lone win from eight starts, which came across 1650m, and has placed four times, including two placings at Group 1 level.
Bookmakers have also quickly reacted to the news, marking the new Maher purchase at a price of $15 for the Group 1 which will be run at Flemington.
But just how good is A Boy Named Susie and does he have what it takes to win the Cox Plate this year?
“He's pretty good,” expert UK racing broadcaster Nick Luck told SENTrack & RSN’s Giddy Up.
“He could have finished maybe a little bit closer in the French Derby behind Constitution River. (But) it was a race that was dominated by Aidan O'Brien's three horses who finished first, second, and third, and nothing else could really get into it from off the back.
“He was the best of the rest and given where he was positioned and how inexperienced he was, I thought he ran great.
“Then he surpassed that again in the Eclipse – you’re splitting Constitution River, who's the best horse in Aidan O'Brien's stable at the moment, and Hawk Mountain, who is a pretty talented animal and was a Group 1 winner at two (years old) and has been placed in a classic at three (years old) – that’s really good form.
“He's certainly a perfectly viable contender for the Cox Plate, and that's the race that Donnacha O'Brien was always suggesting he might run in.
“So, I can understand why he's been bought.”
It is currently understood that the colt will continue to be trained by O’Brein before Maher takes over and has a tilt at the 2026 Cox Plate.
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