Valley races beckon for Supido
TAKE two of the Bletchingly Stakes could be run without favourite Supido.
Trainer Mick Kent said yesterday Supido was “50-50’’ to run in Sunday’s race, relocated to Sandown after high winds caused the abandonment of Saturday’s Caulfield meeting after four races.
“I’ll have a chat to the owners, but we might instead go straight to the McEwen,’’ he said.
The McEwen Stakes is run over 1000m at Moonee Valley on September 2.
Kent is keen to race Supido as often as he can at Moonee Valley, saying the StrathAyr surface suits the sprinter.
The Moir and Manikato Stakes in the Spring Carnival are key goals for Supido, a $3.50 favourite for the Bletchingly before the abandonment of the meeting.
If Kent decides to start on Sunday, then jockey Luke Nolen — who returns this week from a family holiday in Fiji — replaces Beau Mertens, who left yesterday for a week in Bali.
Trainer Robert Smerdon confirmed yesterday that Ability would run in the Bletchingly, as will the Mick Price-trained pair Lankan Rupee and Duke Of Brunswick.
Price will take the pair to Sandown tomorrow for a track gallop.
“It’s probably going to be of benefit to Lankan Rupee because he’s never raced at the track before,’’ he said.
The addition of the Bletchingly to the Grand Annual Hurdle/Crisp Steeplechase meeting will provide a rare blend of Group flat racing and elite jumps. It is the second part of a big metropolitan weekend of racing, a day after the nine-race Flemington card.