Blackiston hopes luck continues for Suavito in Doncaster Mile

Trainer Nigel Blackiston hopes the stable luck continues for Suavito in the Group 1 $3m The Star Doncaster Mile (1600m) at Randwick on the first day of ‘The Championships’ on Saturday.

Suavito secured the final spot in the Doncaster Mile at Randwick. Photo by Adrienne Bicknell.

Suavito secured the final spot in the Doncaster Mile at Randwick. Photo by Adrienne Bicknell.

Suavito just scraped into the Randwick Feature Mile when she secured the last spot in the twenty horse field plus four emergencies.

The in-form Thorn Park mare was weighted on the minimum with 50kg  and the only other runner to make the Doncatser Mile field with that weight was the Peter Moody trained Plucky Belle who was exempt from the ballet following her win in the Group 1 $600,000 Coolmore Classic (1500m) at Rosehill on March 14.

Blackiston had entered Suavito for the Group 2 $200,000 William Hill Sunline Stakes (1600m) at Moonee Valley last Friday knowing that he was on the borderline of making the Doncaster Mile field but took the gamble and miss the fillies and mares race and headed to Sydney.

“We were very lucky,” Blackiston told the Herald Sun.

“Obviously it was up in the air whether we’d make the field, but the handicappers were confident we’d make it.

“We missed the Sunline Stakes last Friday. It was a punt but, touch wood, it has worked out well so far.”

Singapore based Corey Brown will fly in to ride Suavito taking over from Damien Oliver who has been aboard the mare for ten of her last twelve starts.

Oliver will be on Happy Trails with 56.5kg while Brown will be weighing in half a kilo over at 51.5kg.

“It’s a lovely weight to have,” Blackiston said.

“You are always trying to get in under the handicapper if you can. Corey will ride her a half over, but he knows Randwick very well and is a big-time rider, and hopefully he can get the job done.”

Suavtio is chasing her fifth win on the trot after winning twice in the Spring, before winning her two Autumn Carnival outings.

She won the Group 3 $150,000 Eliza Park International Stakes (1600m) at Moonee Valley and the Group 2 $300,000 Momentum Energy Stakes (2000m) at Flemington during the 2014 Melbourne Spring Carnival before heading for a break.

The four year old mare resumed to collect her first Group 1 victory beating Smokin’ Joey and Dissident in the $400,000 Futurity Stakes (1400m) at Caulfield on February 28 then went on to beat Sertorius in the Group 2 $200,000 Incognitus Blamey Stakes (1600m) at Flemington on March 14.

Suavito is marked at the healthy odds of $17 for the Doncaster Mile with Ladbrokes.com.au who have the Bart and James Cummings trained Hallowed Crown the $5.50 favourite just ahead of second emergency Kermadec at $6.50, Real Impact at $7 and Pornichet at $8.

Doncaster Mile market Order: $5.50 Hallowed Crown, $6.50, Kermadec, $7 Real Impact, $8 Pornichet, $10 Royal Descent, $11 Sweynesse, $14 World Ace, $16 Sacred Falls, $17 It’s Somewhat, Suavito, Happy Trails, $21 Arabian Gold, Hooked, $26 Cosmic Endeavour, Rudy, Diamond Drille, Leebaz, $31 Plucky Belle, $51 Ninth Legion, $67 Moriarty, Destiny’s Kiss, $101 Malavio, Puccini, $151 Aomen.

About The Author

Mark Mazzaglia

Mark is a passionate journalist with a life-time involvement in the racing industry. He spent many years as an analyst and form expert at the Courier Mail and also has hands-on experience working with some of Queensland’s top trainers.