Trainer Nigel Blackiston is confident that the return to handicap conditions and step-up to 1700 metres for the 2014 Slickpix Stakes will suit Let’s Make Adeal at Caulfield on Saturday.
Let's Make Adeal will step-up to 1700 metres for the 2014 Slickpix Stakes at Caulfield this weekend. Photo by: Race Horse Photos Australia
Let’s Make Adeal beat home just a single runner when she returned to the races in the Group 2 P.B. Lawrence Stakes (1400m) at Caulfield on August 16, but she impressed Blackiston with the way that she worked home in the final 100 metres.
Blackiston told Racing Ahead this morning that he is unsure whether Let’s Make Adeal is a winning chance in the Listed Slickpix Stakes (1700m), but he believes that she will produce an improve effort this weekend.
“I thought that it was a nice run,” Blackiston said.
“Obviously she is back to handicap conditions where she is a lot better suited and I thought that in her last 100 metres she was strong through the line, which was pleasing.
“She has taken good benefit from that run and stepping up to the 1700 metres will be much more suitable for her.
“I think that she will run in the placings, but it will be at 2000 metres where she is better suited.”
The 2014 Slickpix Stakes has drawn a strong field of nominations; with 30 horses included in the entries for the $120,000 event.
Team Williams have included Sea Moon, Masked Marvel and Shikarpour in the Slickpix Stakes nominations, but they are yet to decide whether the talented staying trio will start their spring campaigns in the race.
Masked Marvel has not been seen at the races since he finished 18th in the Group 1 Melbourne Cup (3200m) at Flemington in November last year and Sea Moon had just one race start during the autumn, while Shikarpour finished at the tail of the field when he made his Australian racing debut in the Listed Golden Mile (1600m) at Bendigo (1600m) on March 15.
Ibicenco won the Slickpix Stakes last year and is also a chance to return to the races for the first time since the Melbourne Cup, while stablemate Brambles will be stepping up to 1700 metres after performing fairly in the P.B. Lawrence Stakes.
Other interesting horses included in the 2014 Slickpix Stakes nominations include Ciaron Maher-trained Mr O’Ceirin, promising stayer Who Shot Thebarman, Melbourne Cup hopeful Araldo and former Lloyd Williams-owned galloper Marksmanship.
