Maher chasing third win in the Anzac Day Stakes

Amazake will be jumping from a debut second at Flemington on March 29 to the Listed Anzac Day Stakes (1400m) on Friday. 

Maher will be chasing his third win in the race having prepared Throssell (2016) and Merchant Navy (2017) to victory. 

Throssell did not live up to expectations, winning only once more before retirement in 2017, while Merchant Navy went on to win twice at Group 1 level, including the Diamond Jubilee Stakes at Royal Ascot. 

While Merchant Navy won his Group 1 races over sprint trips, Amazake is bred to get out over ground and the Maher stable are already looking at potential three-year-old options for the gelding. 

Jack Turnbull, Maher's assistant trainer, said if Amazake continues to make the progress the stable expects, then he could be a Derby contender next season. 

"On pedigree, without going too early, he's potentially a Derby type if he stays," Turnbull said. 

"That's his page, but he'll get to a mile and a little further fairly quickly. 

"To race the way he did on debut sets him up to go to Friday and then whether we pull up stumps and have a rest for the spring, I'm not sure, but he's very likeable." 

Amazake chased home Prestige Ole on debut over Friday's course and distance and will have that galloper as one of the main stumbling blocks again. 

Turnbull said Amazake headed to Avoca for a 1000m jump-out on April 14. 

"He had a tick over jump-out. We used it as a gallop as we are a month between runs and he's been really good since," Turnbull said. 

"He's really professional, he's a competitor. 

"We were on the fence about his ability when we debuted him at Flemington. 

"We knew he went OK, but we thought he might come unstuck a little bit, but he got into a really good spot, travelled well and put in a really good effort." 

Amazake is the $7.50 third favourite behind Legacy Bound ($2.70) and Stay Cosmic ($6.50) in early markets.