Light Infantry Man should enjoy a significant class drop in this weekend’s Zipping Classic.

Ciaron Maher’s seven-year-old tackles the Group 2 over 2400m at Caulfield on Saturday having kept some class Group 1 weight-for-age company in the Champions Stakes and Cox Plate in his last two runs.

Now he meets a slightly inferior field to his past two assignments and Maher believes, with Ethan Brown back in the saddle, that Light Infantry Man can win for the first time since his Australian Cup triumph in March.

“I was half thinking about taking him to Hong Kong for the Vase. We decided to stay and run him in this race,” Maher said on SENTrack & RSN’s Giddy Up.

“He’s been crying out for the 2400m and Browny back on is a big plus. He got back last start and I thought his run was huge behind Via (Sistina) given he got back to last and he needs to lead.

“He was a very good run in the Cox Plate so that’s a drop in class to this race. If Browny can get him out and in his best racing position I think he’d be hard to beat.”

Light Infantry Man is currently priced a $4.40 second favourite with Sportsbet, but Maher could justify him being a much shorter quote.

“He doesn’t win that often so I could see why he would be $4.40,” he added.

“But personally, I think that is overpriced for him.”

Would the master trainer ring co-owner John O’Neill and tell him to have a bet?

“Yeah, I will be.”

The Maher stable will have several other runners in the Zipping including Berkshire Breeze ($11), Smokin’ Romans ($27) and Interpretation ($61), but will keep Strawberry Impact for the upcoming Pakenham Cup.

“Berkshire Breeze has trained on well,” Maher said further

“Smokin’ Romans we’ve just freshened him right up from the Melbourne Cup.

“He’s back in class. He usually carries big weights so the level weights will suit him.

“Interpretation is actually going well. The scale probably suits him better in a handicap.

“I thought his Bendigo Cup run was as good as the winner (stablemate Sayedaty Sadaty).”

Despite giving a strong push for Light Infantry Man, Maher says the stable’s best winning hope arises in the Twilight Glow Stakes (1400m) with Jenni Gone Bonkers.

“Bonkers, she’s probably our best for the weekend at Caulfield I would say,” Maher said.

Maher is also expecting Detonator Jack to run well in the Eclipse Stakes (1800m) if there is a little bit of rain around in Melbourne.

Benedetta taking on big guns

The stable will also saddle ump sprinter Benedetta in the Group 1 Winterbottom Stakes (1200m) at Ascot where she’s currently a $17 hope in a market monopolised by Jokers Grin ($2.60) and two-time winner Overpass ($2.70).

She was last seen running fifth behind Giga Kick in the Champions Sprint on a heavy track at Flemington on November 8.

“I think she’s very much still on the up,” Maher said of Benedetta who will be ridden by Daniel Stackhouse.

“Jamie (Melham) gave her a good report at Flemington and I thought she ended up in not quite the right bit of the track, and wasn’t quite ready for those conditions second-up.

“She’s on the up and has thrived since being over there.

“Overpass loves it over there and Jokers Grin looks to be one out of the box.

“She’ll need to improve off her last run no doubt, but she’s done everything right. Stackhouse knows her well, so hopefully all that can produce a result.”

Benedetta will likely stay in Perth for the Gold Rush on December 13.

Elsewhere, Maher reckons Silver Wedding is a “great chance” in the opener at Doomben.

He’d have his $100 on Jenni Gone Bonkers into Silver Wedding.

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