Dominic Sutton, the rising star trainer, has made impressive strides quickly, now pursuing a new landmark in the 2026 Australian Oaks at Randwick with a bid for his debut Sydney success on a marquee racing day.
After his first solo runner in March 2024, Sutton celebrated Group 1 triumph with Feroce in the prior year’s Australian Guineas, while After Summer earned bronze in the VRC Oaks that spring.
Two weeks ago in the Vinery Stud Stakes (2000m), the filly almost handed Sutton his first Sydney victory, and she teams up with yardmate Classic Gem for Saturday’s Australian Oaks (2400m).
A boutique setup with 30-35 in work, Sutton’s entry of two in a Group 1 is noteworthy, win or lose.
“It’s our second full year of training so it’s a big achievement, but we’re fortunate we’ve got the right calibre of horse to do it with,” Sutton said.
“When we started training, this is where we wanted to be, competing on the big stages at the big carnivals in the big races.
“There has been a lot of hard work in the background so hopefully it can pay off.”
Remaining Sydney-based since her second, just behind Kiwi Belle Cheval in the Vinery, After Summer joins Classic Gem who was fifth, finishing fast, to Oaks hope Profoundly in the Adrian Knox Stakes (2000m) recently.
Beaten after leading but rallying hard last start, Sutton forecasts the 2400m extension will favour After Summer on Saturday.
“She doesn’t possess a huge change-up of speed or gear. It was more her stamina kicking in towards the end,” he said.
“They probably had a quicker turn of foot than what she did when the race was unfolding, but obviously up to the 2400 metres is really going to suit.”
Classic Gem placed fifth in spring’s VRC Oaks, and if the rapid backup agrees with her, Sutton makes a strong case for her involvement at the finish.
“She’s probably going to be a bit of a forgotten horse on Saturday,” Sutton said.
“Her run last week was very good considering she was wide the trip with no cover, and she got a little bit lost the Sydney way the first time when the race was unfolding around the bend.
“Once she picked herself up, she was very strong to the line. She’s another filly that will relish the trip.”
In the betting, After Summer sits at $9.50 with Classic Gem at $14, and Sutton concurs on their similarity.
“We work them together quite a lot at home. Classic Gem is probably slightly sharper in her work, but After Summer is an out-and-out stayer and she’s going to be very strong at the end of 2400,” he said.
“You’d probably be leaning towards After Summer. She’s got a better barrier and given what she did last start, but there’s not a huge amount between the two of them.”
Billy Egan will steer After Summer from barrier three, with Damian Lane on Classic Gem out of gate nine.
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