The first target Clayton Douglas set Blue Hotel was accomplished and now it is time to find out where the filly sits in the three-year-old hierarchy.
Blue Hotel returns from a break in the Group 3 Quezette Stakes (1100m) at Caulfield on Saturday having won on debut in Adelaide.
The Listed Dequetteville Stakes (1000m) at Morphettville Parks was chosen for the filly as her dam Volcada had won the same race in 2007.
“Her mother won the same race over in Adelaide, so that was a little plan we set before she had raced, and luckily it came off,” Douglas said.
“She came to hand quickly last prep. She had a jump-out at Balnarring, another one at Woolamai and then she was off to the races.
“I think she’s going to mature again after her spring campaign, but it’s good to have a filly of this quality anyway.”
Saturday’s contest will give Douglas and connections a better idea of where Blue Hotel sits in the pecking order of three-year-old fillies.
Douglas and connections had considered a return trip to Adelaide in the autumn, but after a Balnarring jump-out in April elected on an extended break.
“We were contemplating running her on Goodwood Day in the two-year-old race (Group 3 David Coles Stakes), but it would have been five or six weeks between runs,” Douglas said.
“She had a jump-out in between and after that we elected to give her a month off and get her ready for the early spring.
“She showed us that she is up to these sort of fillies, so we’ll see how she measures up.”
Douglas is well aware of the quality engaged, pointing to Scenic Point and Signature Scent, but he believes Blue Hotel will hold her own.
“Scenic Point looks like she’s a pretty handy filly and Ciaron Maher’s filly (Signature Scent) with Willo on, it’s quite a nice horse and both of those have drawn quite well,” Douglas said.
“There’s no hiding this time of year. You have to take them on, but she did run second to Esha in a trial and she’s run second to Vinrock, so her trial form reads pretty well for Saturday.
“She seems to have come up quite well this preparation.
“She’s a filly that has had only the one start and is still learning a little bit, but I’m happy with how she is going into Saturday.”
