Fran Houlahan and her co-trainer husband Brian Johnston are hoping to top off a successful week when Blue Nile backs up at Caulfield on Saturday.
The pair have had four winners so far this week including a double at Sandown on Wednesday with Blue Nile and Shabangabang.
Blue Nile, a lightly-raced four-year-old Testa Rossa mare, broke through for her first metropolitan win over 1600m at Sandown with leading apprentice Katelyn Mallyon aboard.
With Mallyon riding Placement in the Listed Centaurea Stakes (2005m) at Morphettville on Saturday, Houlahan and Johnston have snapped up promising apprentice Jake Duffy for the ride in the Kevin Dunne Handicap which will be Blue Nile’s first test at 2000 metres.
The big-striding mare, a sister to three-time Melbourne winner Testa Monte, has won three races and will be having only her eighth start on Saturday.
“We thought she’d make a pretty good staying mare,” Houlahan said.
“We’ll make a final decision (whether she runs) on Saturday morning but they’ve raised the weights 3.5kg and with the claim you’d have to think about it.
“The extra distance will be her go and I don’t think the quick back up will be an issue.
“She’s going well and she’ll be competitive I reckon.”
Houlahan prepared Blue Nile’s dam El Amonte who was a 1200m provincial winner and three-times placed in Melbourne, and that mare’s sister Red Nile who won seven races including the 1997 Group Three Mannerism Stakes (1400m) at Caulfield.
“It’s a really good family. El Amonte had a fair bit of talent but just had a few problems,” Houlahan said.
Blue Nile is a $6 third pick in the TAB Sportsbet market which has last-start Caulfield winner The Night’s Hot as a $2.80 favourite with topweight Manila Jewel at $3.40.
Shabangabang ($21) is an acceptor for the Gail Jackson Handicap (1200m) but at this stage is without a rider.
