Son of Al Maher involved in rare double
APRIL 3, 2010: Al Maher was involved in a rare daily double when his first-crop son Amaethon provided the first leg of a memorable brace of victories for Contract Racing P/L.
Carrying top-weight in a competitive 1400-metre event for 3-year-olds staged at Caulfield, the talented gelding broke brilliantly from a wide barrier and was always in control thereafter. Booted to a clear advantage at the top of the straight, Amaethon never looked like being caught and crossed the finishing line a length and a quarter clear of his nearest rival.
Just over three hours later, Amaethon’s 2-year-old half-sister Crystal Lily won the biggest event on the Australian juvenile racing calendar when claiming the $3.5 million Group 1 STC Golden Slipper Stakes at Rosehill Gardens. Despite racing waywardly over the closing stages, the daughter of Stratum proved too strong for her opposition, winning by a half-length.
Both bred and raced by Contract Racing P/L, Crystal Lily and Amaethon are from the Snippets mare Crystal Snip. Other gallopers from this immediate family to have raced with distinction in the same colours include Crystal Wit, Crystal Hawk and Crystal Finale, all of which won in stakes company.
Having only his ninth career start, Amaethon was winning his third race for Contract Racing P/L, having previously won over 1000 metres at Ballarat and 1300 metres at Sandown Lakeside. He is one of 36 individual 3-year-old winners for Al Maher with his first Classic crop to race in season 2009/10. | 
