Perth filly Bliss Street is off to Melbourne for the Autumn Carnival win or lose in tomorrow’s Magic Millions Trophy at Ascot.
Trainer Daniel Morton is keen to get his filly to Melbourne but conceded that she might be a little bit underdone when she steps out in the $96,000 R.M. Williams Magic Millions Perth 3yo Trophy (1400m) and has to take fitter three year olds especially smart filly Night War who has had the benefit of recent racing.
“It’s 1400m first up and she might be a little bit vulnerable against horses that have some racing going in but with 54.5kg I think she will take some beating,” he said.
“Since her break she has come back well and I’m looking forward to it. I thought it was wise to start her in a set weights race.”
Morton opted to go straight into the 1400m of the Magic Millions because of the set weights conditions of the race and didn’t want his filly being lumped with too weight in a handicap.
The Flying Spur filly hasn’t raced for fifteen weeks since finishing fifth behind Atlantic Jewel in the Group 2 $300,000 Wakeful Stakes (2000m) at Flemington on Derby Day last year.
Morton is hoping Bliss Street can regain some of her Spring form which included a narrow win over Hallowell Belle in Group 3 $125,000 Schweppes Thousand Guineas Prelude at Caulfield on September 11 and a second to Mosheen in the Group 2 $250,000 Tabcorp Edward Manifold Stakes (1600m) at Flemington on October 2.
The Perth trainer is looking to keep Bliss Street to her own age group and has picked out a couple of nice fillies races over the Melbourne Autumn Carnival.
They include the Group 2 $180,000 Angus Armanasco Stakes (1400m) at Caulfield on February 25 and the Group 2 $300,000 Kewney Stakes (1400m) at Flemington on Newmarket Handicap Day.
“If she gets through the race in one piece I’m keen to get back to Melbourne and possibly Sydney.”
“There are plenty of options in Melbourne and Sydney but we have to get there first,” Morton said.
Duel Doomben Cup winner Scenic Shot will accompany Bliss Street to Melbourne in preparation for another tilt at the Brisbane Winter Carnival.
And Morton also has his sights set on Brisbane with his King’s Stand Stakes winner Scenic Blast who has recovered from a wind operation.
Morton has picked out the Group 1 $500,000 Futurity Stakes at Caulfield on February 25 as a starting point for Scenic Shot winter program.
“If Bliss Street comes through well and I put her on the plane then Scenic Shot will be on the same plane,” he said.
“He’d probably kick off in a race like the Futurity but I just want to get him up and rolling to have him ready for Brisbane again.”
