Maher claims first Coolmore Stud Stakes with The Next Episode
Ciaron Maher won the Coolmore Stud Stakes for the first time when The Next Episode beat St Gotthard.
Champion trainer Ciaron Maher took out the opening Group One race of the 2026 spring carnival when The Next Episode overpowered rivals down the Flemington straight. Jockey Mark Zahra steered the three-year-old colt to victory in the 1200-metre Coolmore Stud Stakes, a race Zahra has now won three times.
The Next Episode's win was Maher's first in this stallion-making race. The Next Episode has now won five of his seven starts, a strong record heading into the carnival's feature races.
Maher told The Standard the win was a great thrill and praised his staff and jockey for their work. The victory could be a springboard for Maher across the four-day carnival, where he has seven runners in Tuesday's $10 million Melbourne Cup and chances in most other feature races.
- $2 million
- Prize money
- 1200 metres
- Race distance
- 5 of 7 starts
- Next Episode wins
- 7
- Maher's Melbourne Cup runners
Why it mattersA strong start in a feature race signals Maher's team is in form for the carnival's biggest events, especially the Melbourne Cup.
AustraliaMaher's spring campaign gains momentum ahead of the Melbourne Cup and other major Victoria Racing Club races this week.
✓ Claims checked against the source. checked 3 h ago
