The 2000m of the Group 1 $1.5m Australian Cup at Flemington on Saturday is perfect for Suavito according to her trainer Nigel Blackiston.
Suavtio will find the 2000m of the Australian Cup at Flemington perfect at her third run back from a spell. Photo by Adrienne Bicknell.
Suavito is stepping out for the third time this Autumn Carnival after having two runs over 1400m and is a winner over the same course and distance as the Australian Cup when she took out the Group 2 $300,000 Momentum Energy Stakes during the 2014 Melbourne Spring Carnival.
“I think with the work she’s done this week leading into Saturday, the 2000 metres is perfect for her,” Blackiston told AAP.
“She’s had two tough runs at 1400 metres and I think she was looking for the mile the other day,”
Suavito collected her second Group 1 trophy when Luke Currie drove her to the line to win the $500,000 Ladbrokes C.F. Orr Stakes (1400m) at Caulfield on February 13 and then she was doing her best work at the finish again when third to Turn Me Loose in the $500,000 italktravel Futurity Stakes (1400m) at Caulfield on February 27.
The Thorn Park mare had won the Futurity Stakes the previous year when she beat Smokin’ Joey and the horse of the year Dissident.
While Blackiston is giving his mare a great chance to win her third Group 1, he has full respect for the rest of the field lining up against her in the Australian Cup.
“She’s coming out of two strong Group One races and strong form lines,” Blackiston said.
“Obviously Bow Creek is definitely one of the main opponents but there’s others in this race.
“There’s never such thing as an easy Group One. I’ve got a healthy respect for all the competition, but I wouldn’t change her for any of them.”
The Australian Cup is shaping up as a very competitive race with last start Group 2 Peter Young Stakes winner Bow Creek heading the early market at Ladbrokes.com.au at $3.50 while Suavito has been listed as a $9 chance.
The John O’Shea trained Bow Creek put up an outstanding performance to win the Group 2 $200,000 Crown Golden Ale Peter Young Stakes (1800m) at Caulfield on February 27 after clearly missing the start.
But a brilliant ride from Damien Oliver saw Bow Creek settle just worst than midfield on the fence before weaving a passage in between runners in the straight to record a soft win in the end.
German import Our Ivanhowe is also on track to peak in the Australian Cup after being badly held up for a run in the straight when fifth to Bow Creek.
Melbourne Cup winning trainer Darren Weir is considering backing up Palentino after the three year old scored a gutsy win in the Group 1 $750,000 Australian Guineas (1600m) at Flemington last Saturday.
Australian Cup market order at Ladbrokes.com.au: $3.50 Bow Creek, $6 Our Ivanhowe, $7 Preferment, $8 Palentino, $9 Suavito, $11 Rising Romance, $13 Almoonqith, Fenway, $17 Happy Trails, $21 He Or She, Magic Hurricane, $26 Arab Dawn, Mourinho.
