Herbert Power Stakes 2014: Blackiston hopeful with Let’s Make Adeal

An impressive piece of work from Let’s Make Adeal has the Cups hopeful ready to take aim in the Turnbull Stakes at Flemington.

But first the mare needs to make the field.

Let’s Make Adeal is 26th in the ballot order for Saturday’s Group One Turnbull (2000m) with a maximum field of 16 plus emergencies with a number of defectors expected.

Let's Make Adeal
Let’s Make Adeal

If Let’s Make Adeal doesn’t make the field trainer Nigel Blackiston will instead send her into the Herbert Power Stakes the following week at Caulfield but his preferred option is the Turnbull.

Let’s Make Adeal pleased Blackiston when she worked over 1600m in company with multiple Group One winner Silent Achiever on the Flemington course proper on Tuesday, holding a slender margin on the New Zealand mare at the post.

They were clocked to run their last 400m in 22.49sec.

“It was really good, solid work,” Blackiston said.

“I think my mare is going really well and obviously Silent Achiever is a good mare. I’m just pleased with the way she is progressing and hopefully we can get into the Turnbull.”

Both the Turnbull and Herbert Power carry a ballot exemption into the Caulfield Cup to the winner and Blackiston is hoping the mare can secure starts in the Cups.

Under the set weights plus penalties conditions of the Turnbull, Let’s Make Adeal has 52.5kg with James Winks to ride.

A grand-daughter of Let’s Elope who won the 1991 Turnbull and both Cups, Let’s Make Adeal failed to qualify for the big races last year.

She finished fourth in the Herbert Power after almost falling early in the race, and was then beaten a short neck in the Lexus Stakes when a win would have secured a Melbourne Cup berth.

Blackiston believes the mare is better this spring.

“She’s matured, she’s stronger. We just need a little bit of luck. But she never finds it, unfortunately,” he said.

Roger James said Silent Achiever had a good blow after Tuesday’s solid work.

He labelled the Turnbull D-Day for the mare, who he expects to settle closer to the speed than in the Underwood (1800m) in which she finished fifth.

“It’s a big roomy track, 2000 metres, it should be ideal for her,” James said.

“I’ve been happy with her but she’s been still getting there. There’s no places to hide from here on in.”

Chris Waller is expected to have only Hawkspur, a luckless runner last year, in the Turnbull.

Foreteller is likely to be saved for the Caulfield Stakes the following week with Sacred Falls also headed that way while Who Shot Thebarman is expected to run in The Bart Cummings (2520m) on Saturday.

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