Overseas targets beckon for Futurity Stakes 2016 runner

An international campaign could be on the agenda for Suavito after she runs in the Australian Cup.

Trainer Nigel Blackiston confirmed he had fielded queries from Hong Kong and Royal Ascot representatives about taking the mare overseas.

But first Suavito has to get through the Futurity Stakes at Caulfield on Saturday and the Australian Cup at Flemington on March 12.

Blackiston says Suavito has improved off her first-up CF Orr Stakes win and he isn’t concerned about her extending from the 1400m of Saturday’s Futurity to 2000m in the Australian Cup two weeks later.

“She had 10 months off going into her first-up run so there’s a lot of room for improvement,” Blackiston said.

“She’s ticking over nicely going forward to Saturday and then on to the Australian Cup afterwards.

“She’s been in quite a while now and building up slowly and we don’t have to rush her.

“Its not a huge jump from 1400 to 2000 (metres). She’ll be fine.”

Along with the international options, a trip to Sydney for the Doncaster Mile is also in the mix for Suavito.

Blackiston was satisfied with the 54.5kg she received when weights were released on Monday, two kilos less than the Doncaster handicap given to Cox Plate-winning mare Winx.

What is concerning for Blackiston, however, is Suavito’s dislike for wet tracks after she ran seventh in the Doncaster on a slow surface last year.

“She ran super up there last year but it was just too wet,” he said.

“If it was good to dead or just into the slow it would be okay for her but it can be bloody wet up there sometimes.”

Blackiston said connections would consider all options for Suavito following her Melbourne campaign and nothing had been ruled out.

“Sydney is on the cards, Hong Kong is on the cards and there could even be a trip to England being on the cards,” Blackiston said.

“There’s several options and we’ve had a few people ringing around asking us different questions and it’s just which way we go.

“We’d be very serious about going to Hong Kong and if she performed well there it would be good to go on to Royal Ascot.”

 

Article from JustHorseRacing.com.au

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