Sandown hit-out for Nigel Blackiston pair
Ballarat trainer Nigel Blackiston will take a two-horse team to Sandown as he looks to build the career of one galloper while the other may race for the last time.
Last start Sandown winner Subrising runs in the Ladbrokes Yard Comments Handicap (1400m) as she looks to build her career towards a potential Group 1 target, while Passione runs in the Ladbrokes Odds Surge Handicap (1300m) before a potential date at stud.
Blackiston says Subrising has a long spring ahead with the potential of running in the Group 1 Thousand Guineas (1600m) at Caulfield in November.
Subrising overcame a checkered passage to win at Sandown on August 6 over 1200m when resuming and will appreciate the 1400m contest on Wednesday.
“She had a quiet time after her first-up win,” Blackiston said.
“She’s got a long spring and I’m hoping that she might measure up to the Thousand Guineas which has been pushed back into November now, so we’ve got to space her runs and see how we go.
“But this is a nice stepping stone.
“The 1400 metres is nice, but she does go up four kilos on her win against the boys, but she’s only a kilo off the minimum and a kilo off the topweight.”
In her return run, Subrising was slow into stride which afforded jockey Robbie Downey, who has the ride again on Wednesday, time to avoid the fallen Luke Campbell who was dislodged at the 800m mark.
“Had she jumped with them, she might have got more tangled up,” Blackiston said.
“She didn’t arrive until very late when she won first-up, so the 1400 metres will hopefully give her the chance to stay in touch a bit more and be there at the finish again.
“She’s still not fully wound up, but she’s going along nicely.”
While Subrising still has her future ahead, Blackiston said Passione was possibly racing for the last time before a potential date with Toronado.
After starting her career in New Zealand, Passione has scored wins at Caulfield and Sandown and is coming off a last start sixth at Moonee Valley on July 29.
“She’s been a good honest mare for me,” Blackiston said.
“She’s won two in town so it would be nice if she could go out on a winning note for Cambridge Stud who have been great supporters of the stable.”
More Racing News
Snitzanova blitzes rivals in Sandown Guineas
Snitzanova has continued the run of success for fillies in the Sandown Guineas since the race was transferred to Caulfield with a stylish win on Saturday. Having done her early racing in Sydney, Snitzanova made her Melbourne debut with victory in the Group 2 race over 1600m. Snitzanova emulated See You In Heaven and...
Eagle Nest outshines rivals to win Starlight Stakes
Gerald Ryan was beginning to question his assessment of Eagle Nest when she was marked at double-figure odds for the Starlight Stakes, but the Rosehill horseman had the last laugh as the mare ran her rivals ragged. Posted the second roughest of the nine contenders at $20, Eagle Nest led under Tom Sherry and...
Flight delay no worry for Rachel King
Sydney jockey Rachel King wondered if she would make it to Caulfield in time for her ride on Arapaho in the Zipping Classic. King was forced to miss two of her earlier rides on the Caulfield card after being stranded in Sydney on Saturday due to a delay with flights because of poor...
Private Eye back to best in Festival Stakes win
Joe Pride has been at a loss to explain the efforts of Private Eye this spring and he is no closer to figuring it out following the gelding’s inexplicable return to form in the Festival Stakes at Rosehill. While the Group 1 winner hasn’t been racing poorly – he was beaten 1-1/2 lengths...
Group 1 Tattersall’s Tiara aims for filly with Spicy future
Spicy Martini looks to be a filly with a bright future after winning the Mode Stakes at Doomben and maintaining a perfect record in her two starts to-date. The listed feature over 1200-metres rounded out her Queensland Summer Carnival campaign and co-trainer Toby Edmonds is now looking to the wintertime and the Group...
Tulloch Lodge assembling team for Magic Millions 2025
With the Magic Millions carnival less than six weeks away, Tulloch Lodge duo Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott are beginning to tighten the strings on their Gold Coast squad. While they lost early fancy and Breeders’ Plate victor King Kirk in a tragic drowning accident at Randwick this week, the pair are still...
Attrition in line for G1 Northerly Stakes honours
Ballarat trainer Mitchell Freedman has headed to Perth to put the finishing touches on Attrition ahead of a Group 1 assault at Ascot. Attrition is set to run in the Northerly Stakes (1800m) on Saturday, his first run since finishing fourth in the Five Diamonds (1800m) at Rosehill on November 9. Freedman made the...
Michael Lane’s mare too bossy in Jungle Dawn, further riches await
The Boss Lady won’t progress to the Starstruck Classic (1600m) in a fortnight, but her Ascot Pinnacles campaign is not done with just yet. Trainer Michael Lane has some thinking to do, but gave a hint of what may be on offer after the quality mare gave another reminder of her talent...
Golden Mile to return to racing
Golden Mile will return to work as a gelding after one injury-interrupted season at stud. Just days before last year’s Caulfield Guineas winner Griff is put up for sale on Inglis Digital, the horse who precedes him on one of the most famed honour rolls in Australian racing has been announced as...
Mick Price circles the Ballarat Cup with Globe
Mick Price is keen to try and get Globe one more feature win before setting his sights on 2025 with the untapped gelding. The six-year-old son of Charm Spirit is part of a bumper set of 39 entries for this Saturday’s Ballarat Cup. Price, who trains in partnership with Michael Kent Jnr, sees...
