Suavito upset Dissident to win the Futurity Stakes at her last start, but trainer Nigel Blackiston is confident that the talented mare will produce an even better performance in the 2015 Blamey Stakes at Flemington this weekend.
Suavito finished over the top of her rivals to record her maiden win at Group 1 level in the 2015 Futurity Stakes. Photo by: Sarah Ebbett
Blackiston was bullish about the chances of Suavito heading into the Group 1 Futurity Stakes (1400m) at Caulfield on February 28, but even he was slightly surprised when she finished over the top of Smokin’ Joey and Dissident to record a maiden win at the highest level of racing.
Suavito will take on a similar field in the Group 2 Blamey Stakes (1600m) and Blackiston is confident that the Thorn Park mare can record another race win as she heads towards races like the Group 1 Doncaster Mile (1600m) and either the Group 1 Queen Of The Turf Stakes (1600m) or Group 1 Queen Elizabeth Stakes (2000m) during The Championships.
“I am extremely pleased with the way that she has come through her first-up run and I am looking forward to tackling the field again on Saturday,” Blackiston said.
“Her fitness has improved and she galloped beautifully on Tuesday morning on the ground proper and there is still room for some more improvement heading towards Sydney.
“It is the same field that she met pretty much in the Futurity and she is nicely weighted again and it is nice option heading towards the Doncaster later on.
“I am very confident.”
Suavito has shown plenty of tactical versatility during her racing career to date and jockey Damien Oliver was able to track the leaders into the race in the Futurity Stakes before allowing the four-year-old to finish over the top of her rivals.
Oliver has been booked to ride Suavito again in the Blamey Stakes and the veteran trainer is hoping that the leading hoop can follow a similar formula this weekend.
“I am hoping that she can slide across because the main speed is drawn outside of her,” Blackiston said.
“Hopefully we can sit in the first three or four like she did recently.”
Suavito is currently available at 2015 Blamey Stakes odds of $2.30 with Ladbrokes and is a clear favourite from Futurity Stakes runner-up Smokin’ Joey ($4.60), imported galloper Guest Of Honour ($9), Group 2 winner Sertorius ($10), the consistent Jacquinot Bay ($10), last start winner Kourkam ($11) and Australian debutant Waxing ($14).
