Blacker eyeing big day
SATURDAY, AUGUST 17, 2019 themercury.com.au SUBSCRIPTIONS 1300 696 397 LONGFORD trainer John Blacker didn’t have a runner at the first two meetings of the new racing season, but he is hoping to make up lost ground in Devonport today by leading in multiple winners.
He starts the day with his former Sires Produce Stakes winner Triple Strip, which resumes racing in a class three handicap (race 2) over 1150m.
Blacker took the four-yearold to the trials last week and she worked home nicely over 800m to finish third of four, beaten 2¾ lengths by Prince of Virtue, which sizzled over the trip in 47.76sec — well over a second quicker than Mystic Journey took to win an open trial (49.15).
“The mare showed us a lot as a two-year-old, but for some reason she never went on with it last season even though she won a race first-up and was placed, Blacker said.
“This time in she has come along nicely and that trial has brought her on ever further so I expect her to be very competitive on Saturday.
“I’m confident this mare will be good over a bit of ground further down the track but the 1150 metres should be ideal at this stage of her preparation.”
Blacker has last-start winner Snippety Cat engaged in race three, a class one handicap over 1350m, in which the five-year-old looks well placed given how he won his maiden in Devonport in late June.
Blacker gave the gelded son of Snippetson a freshen-up after the maiden win and provided the race is run at an honest tempo today he should be competitive.
His in-form middle-distance performer Cunning Fox has won his past two over 1880m and 1650m, but he comes back to the 1880m today in a scaled handicap 82 in which he will carry the minimum of 54kg.
“I believe Cunning Fox can become a contender in this season’s major cups so with that target in mind I think he should be able to deal with this field and the three-week break is ideal for him.” Blacker closes the program with his former Victorian Generalmaintenance, which has had two starts in Tasmania with his last-start effort his best. Generalmaintenance finished third last start in a maiden-class one over 1650m and meets the same grade and distance today. “He probably knocked up the last 100m last start but he will strip a lot fitter [today].”
While Blacker clearly believes Generalmaintenance is his best winning chance, Wesley Vale trainer Glenn Stevenson says his two last-start winners Fighting Phoenix (race 6) and Skip Town Mike (race 7) have both worked brilliantly this week. He expects them both to win again.