Another staying race goes to star horseman Ciaron Maher whose race favourite, Circle Of Fire, was too good over the two miles enjoying an impressive victory in the 2024 Sydney Cup results despite a far from ideal run.

2024 Sydney Cup winner Circle Of Fire was excellent overcoming a wide run to salute by two lengths. Photo: Steve Hart.

It was an emotional Group 1 $2 million Sydney Cup (3200m) result English Classic winning jockey, the Hong Kong-based Andrea Atzeni, who rode the winner in honour of fallen hoop Stefano Cherchi.

Cherchi, 23, tragically died two weeks after a fall at Canberra back on March 20.

Cherchi’s parents were there in the stands at Randwick on Day 2 of The Championships as they cheered on one of their lost son’s closest comrades, Atzeni.

Atzeni had been back and forth between Hong Kong and Australia throughout the ideal before then answering the SOS call to ride the eventual Sydney Cup champ, the former Queen Elizabeth II owned Circle Of Fire, for Maher.

“It is definitely for him (Cherchi),” Atzeni said of his Sydney Cup victory.

“It has been a tough time for for his family and it is amazing to see them here.

“It must be very tough for them to be here, and they are here because I came.

“It wouldn’t have been an easy decision for them to come racing today. It shows how tough they and and it shows that unfortunately Stefano left us doing what he wanted to do and what he loved doing.”

In on just 51.5kg, talented Almanzor four-year-old Circle Of Fire was favourite in Sydney Cup betting on the quick back-up after an eye-catching victory here on a Heavy (9) last weekend in the Group 2 Chairman’s Quality (2600m).

The gun four-year-old handled the seven-day turnaround to become the first horse to do the Chairman’s – Sydney Cup double since The Offer (2014).

“It is unbelievable. Fitting this week as Andrea was such good mates with Stefano,” winning horseman Maher told Sky Thoroughbred Central. 

“The horse, he was unbelievable. Andrea, he had to be confident and that was unbelievable.

“I can’t thank my team, the owners, enough.

“They’ve done a great job to get a horse in this condition to do it seven days apart. Some effort.

“To Will Bourne, getting the horse and sourcing it, phenomenal.”

Things did not quite go to plan during the run with the favourite forced to race three-wide on top of the speed with no cover throughout most of the 3200m classic.

The horse raced keen the early stages and Atzeni allowed him to slide forward mid-race and sit fourth.

Circle Of Fire ($5.50F) then proved what serious stayer he was when coming down the outside home the straight to give a good kick 100m out from the line and fend off the challengers for a two length triumph.

In second was the John O’Shea-trained Athabascan ($6), another son of Almanzor, who came via a lead-up Rosehill run for fourth in the Group 1 Tancred Stakes (2400m) on March 30.

Further franking the Tancred Stakes form this year, the Kris Lees-trained winner Kalapour ($12) was also solid up in distance finishing a further half-length third to complete the Sydney Cup 2024 trifecta.

The sky looks the limit down under now for Circle Of Fire who is among the early favourites in all-in betting on the 2024 Melbourne Cup at Flemington the first Tuesday of November.

“There’s one other Cup in the spring and they’re very fortunate and lucky owners,” Maher said.

Click here to access the latest pre-field Melbourne Cup odds online at Ladbrokes.com.au.

2024 Sydney Cup Results & Finishing Order

Table Credit: Racing Australia. 

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