Undefeated Inglis Premier winning Jukebox is on track for his spring bid where the untapped Ciaron Maher-trained colt is set to target Flemington’s Coolmore Stud Stakes 2017 in November.

Jukebox is being aimed at Flemington’s 2017 Coolmore Stud Stakes this November during the Melbourne Cup Carnival. Photo: Ultimate Racing Photos.

A winner of his opening two career starts during the summer, Jukebox was a $200,000 buy from last year’s Inglis Premier Yearling Sale.

He went some way to earning back his purchase price when backing up from his Geelong win on debut to take out the lucrative Restricted Listed Inglis Premier (1200m) on February 4 at Caulfield Racecourse.

Maher recently welcomed Jukebox back into work at his Warrnambool stable and is looking at the $150,000 Group 3 Vain Stakes (1100m) first-up at Caulfield on August 19 for the horse’s spring launching pad.

“He’s more of a Vain Stakes, Danehill Stakes type of a horse and all things going well he’d then roll on to the Coolmore [Stud Stakes],” Maher told Racing Victoria this week.

“He’s a very sharp, little horse and he is progressing well in his gallops and seems in good order.”

The $200,000 Group 2 Danehill Stakes (1200m) takes place down the famous Flemington straight on September 16, while the Group 1 Coolmore Stud Stakes (1200m) is slated for the same track and distance on Victoria Derby Day during the Melbourne Cup Carnival in November.

The key recent lead-up into the Coolmore Stud Stakes has been Randwick’s $300,000 Group 2 Roman Consul Stakes (1200m) held on Epsom Handicap Day.

The Roman Consul Stakes has produced three of the past four Coolmore Stud Stakes winners including Zoustar (2013) and Brazen Beau (2014) who both completed the double for Sydney’s Chris Waller.

Waller also won the 2015 edition of the Flemington Group 1 with Japonisme (2015) who improved on a lead-up third in the Roman Consul, while the Mick Price-trained Flying Artie (2016) won last year’s race after taking out the lucrative Group 3 Blue Sapphire Stakes at Caulfield in the lead-up.

The fillies dominate early Coolmore Stud Stakes betting ahead of the spring with Magic Millions 2YO Classic winner Houtzen and Golden Slipper champion She Will Reign the ones to beat.

Both of those fillies also already have a slot in the inaugural edition of the $10 million Restricted The Everest (1200m) at Royal Randwick on October 14.

Jukebox meanwhile can be found further down the pre-nomination Coolmore Stud Stakes odds online at around $26 to hand Maher his maiden win in the feature sprint for three-year-olds.

Maher could also be represented in the Coolmore Stud Stakes field this season by his also undefeated colt Merchant Navy who is being considered for a spring sprint campaign over a shot at the Caulfield Guineas 2017 at a mile.

To back Maher’s spring three-year-olds at the right price head to Ladbrokes.com.au now.