Trainer Tom Dabernig is set to give promising mare Cleo Cat a crucial test down the Flemington straight on Saturday in a heat of the Santa Ana Lane Sprint Series over 1100m, a run that could shape her winter campaign.
The Flemington sprint will serve as a key indicator of whether the straight track suits Cleo Cat. If successful, it opens the door for targets such as the Listed Santa Ana Lane Sprint Series Final (1200m) on July 5 and the Group 3 Aurie’s Star Handicap (1200m) on August 2, both at Flemington.
On the other hand, if she doesn’t appreciate the straight course, Dabernig is prepared to shift focus to traditional bend-track sprints like the Group 3 Sir John Monash Stakes (1100m) and the Group 3 Bletchingly Stakes (1200m) at Caulfield in July.
“We’re looking as though we’ll go to Flemington to run in an 1100-metre open handicap on Saturday which will be a bit of a test run,” Dabernig said.
“There’s a Listed 1200-metre race two weeks later that may suit her, or if we see that she doesn’t handle the straight we just scrap that for the Sir John Monash Stakes and the Bletchingly Stakes.
But if she does, there is the Aurie’s Star up the straight as well.
There are plenty of options for her, but I just want to see her down the straight as it will open up a few doors if she goes well down there.”
Cleo Cat has won seven of her nine starts and is already a Group 3 winner, having claimed the Proud Miss Stakes (1200m) in May at Morphettville.
Her only recent defeat came at Caulfield in the Bel Esprit Stakes (1100m), where she was runner-up to Niance. She also had a flat performance at Geelong in January, which Dabernig attributed to extreme heat conditions.
The final decision on her Flemington run will be made following a gallop at Warrnambool on Tuesday.
Bettors eyeing Cleo Cat for Flemington or her next Group assignments can visit the best betting sites Australia for the latest odds and offers.
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