Trainer Dom Sutton achieved a significant milestone in his first year of training, securing his inaugural Group 1 victory with Feroce in the Australian Guineas in March 2025. Sutton is now looking to replicate that success at Flemington this Saturday in the Group 2 Tesio Stakes, a race that serves as a potential launchpad for a Group 1 campaign during the upcoming Melbourne Cup Carnival.
The former jumps jockey from the UK will present Classic Gem and After Summer for the mares’ race over 2040 metres. The latter runner has the Group 2 Queen Elizabeth Stakes, scheduled for November 7 back at Flemington, firmly in her sights.
After Summer’s initial run this preparation saw her finish eighth in the Group 2 Stocks Stakes (1600m) at Caulfield on September 27. However, her pedigree suggests suitability for longer distances, having previously placed at Group 1 level over 2000m and 2400m in Sydney. Thus, the Tesio Stakes distance of 2040m is considered well within her reach.
“Her run was better over a mile (first-up) this time around than what is was over the same distance last prep but she is just an out-and-out stayer so those horses were just too sharp for her, especially at that level,” Sutton explained. “She held her ground to the line and through the line jockey Billy Egan said she really picked up the bridle so out to 2000, at Flemington, I still think it is on the short side for her but it will be best when we go to the Queen Elizabeth.
“It will be ideal if she can set herself up for that though she hasn’t changed much physically as she’s not an overly big mare, but she just comes into her own over the distances. She has a good heart and lungs.”
Classic Gem, who broke her maiden status two starts prior at Bendigo after ten attempts, showed a good closing effort last start at Caulfield over 1700m while carrying the top weight of 59 kilograms.
This weight was also assigned to her when she achieved a fourth placing in the Group 1 Australian Oaks (2400m) at Randwick in April.
“I haven’t been frustrated with her because I thought last prep we threw her in the deep end in three-year-old group races and she performed well. She ran fourth in the Oaks and we probably went one run too many at Flemington after that trying to knock her maiden over,” Sutton commented. “I thought she was excellent the other day over a mile over a trip too short.”
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