Thiamandi made her racing debut over 1200 metres with an upset victory in the Group 3 Bletchingly Stakes (1200m) at Caulfield on Saturday and jockey Michael Rodd believes that is the ideal trip for the talented filly.
Thiamandi produced an outstanding performance to win the Blecthingly Stakes at Caulfield on Saturday. Photo by: Race Horse Photos Australia
Lord Of The Sky started the Bletchingly Stakes as a dominant favourite, but the Danerich entire tired badly in the final stages of the race and finished a disappointing fourth, while Thiamandi finished over the top of the leaders to score an impressive two lengths victory.
Thiamandi had previously raced exclusively over shorter sprint distances and was considered something of a 1000 metre specialist, but Rodd told Correct Weight yesterday that the Street Boss filly clearly relished the extra 200 metres in the Bletchingly Stakes.
“I think that distance wise the 1200 is right up her alley,” Rodd said.
“It was good to see her be able to settle and hit the line.
“It definitely adds another string to her bow.”
Thiamandi had previously performed fairly at Listed level, finishing fifth in the Listed Euclase Stakes (1050m) and fourth in the Listed Lightning Stakes (1050m) at Morphettville last year, but her Bletchingly Stakes victory was her first at Group level.
Rodd admitted after the race that he did not rate Thiamandi a winning chance in the Group 1 event and said that he would advise trainer Lloyd Kennewell not to step the rising four-year-old up in class too quickly.
“I think now they will be looking to chase bigger fish, but I wouldn’t be rushing to get there too quickly,” Rodd said.
“The Bletchingly is a Group 3 race and no disrespect to the other runners, but it probably wasn’t a full strength Group 3 race.
“We got the best field we could for this kind of year, but it definitely steps up come spring carnival time.
“I was hoping we could run a nice second or third and it’d be a really good breeding page for her, but winning’s even better.”
Kennewell was not on hand to celebrate the Bletchingly Stakes victory, which was his maiden win at Group level in Victoria, as he was in Las Vegas for his Buck’s Party.
Trainer Robbie Laing still believes that Lord Of The Sky is capable of competing at the highest level during the 2014 Spring Racing Carnival and the promising sprinter will remain in work.
