Trainer Nigel Blackiston has revealed that the 2015 Memsie Stakes will be the early Spring Racing Carnival target for Group 1 winning mare Suavito.
Suavito will have the chance to add another win to her Group 1 resume in the 2015 Memsie Stakes. Photo by: Adrienne Bicknell
Suavito finished her 2014 Spring Racing Carnival campaign with back-to-back wins in the Group 3 Eliza Park International Stakes (1600m) at Moonee Valley on October 25 and Group 2 Matriarch Stakes (2000m) at Flemington on November 8.
Blackiston elected to give Suavito an opportunity at weight-for-age level in the Group 1 Futurity Stakes (1400m) at Caulfield on February 28 and his decision paid dividends when she upset Dissident to record a maiden win at the highest level of racing.
Suavito made it two wins on the trot with a professional effort in the Group 2 Blamey Stakes (1600m) at Flemington on March 14 and she was far from disgraced when seventh behind Kermadec in the Group 1 Doncaster Mile (1600m) at Royal Randwick on April 6.
The Thorn Park mare was sent to the spelling paddock after the Doncaster Mile, but she is now back in work and will be prepared for a first-up tilt at the Group 1 Memsie Stakes (1400m) at Caulfield on August 29 before potentially pressing on to races like the Group 1 Caulfield Cup (2400m) at the same venue on October 17 and the Group 1 Cox Plate (2040m) at Moonee Valley on October 24.
“She’ll be given every opportunity to try and get to one of those races but if we don’t think she’ll measure up we’ll come back to mares’ grade and maybe look at the Myer Stakes,” Blackiston told AAP.
“She’s put on some nice condition since the Doncaster and has come back into the stable in good order.”
Suavito has recorded seven wins from her 18 race starts to date and she has accumulated just under $1 million in prizemoney for connections since she made her racing debut at Ballarat in September of 2013.
Blackiston has not had a runner in the Memsie Stakes since Weasel Will finished eighth behind champion mare Sunline in the 2001 edition of the race.
Suavito is currently available at 2015 Cox Plate odds of $34 with Ladbrokes, while Hong Kong galloper Able Friend ($7) is a narrow favourite from Godolpin-owned Contributer ($8), triple Group 1 winner Criterion ($9), Doomben Cup winner Pornichet ($11), Doncaster Mile winner Kermadec ($13) and Japan-based Tosen Stardom ($13).
