Kylie Vella is not getting too far ahead of herself despite Zuprising scoring another impressive win at Sandown.
Zuprising landed Vella her first city winner when successful at Sandown last month and was even more impressive in his victory in the Schweppes Handicap on Wednesday.
Now Vella has plans of securing a first Saturday success when she takes Zuprising to Flemington for a 1400m race on January 30.
Ridden by Dean Yendall and starting favourite, Zuprising ($3.20) scored a widening 4-3/4 length victory from Best Suggestion ($8.50) with One In Punch ($4.40) a half length away third.
Vella said she felt added pressure heading to Sandown knowing she was saddling the favourite.
“I like coming to the races when we’re 10-1 and no-one expects us to win,” she said.
“But when you come to the races and there’s expectations, it’s a lot more nerve-wracking.
“I worked him at Colac on Saturday morning and I thought he worked as well as he did before he won two weeks ago.”
Zuprising is still a work in progress with Vella describing him as “immature in the head” but that he is also improving with racing.
She said the way he is settling in his races the gelding will have little trouble getting further than 1400m.
Yendall thinks there are better races in store for the son of Zupaone than his two midweek successes.
And he says Zuprising is up to stakes company.
“Everyone’s hoping he will stay sound,” Yendall said.
“Kylie and (jockey husband) Steve, they know what they’re doing.
“On that win he’s got a lot of scope. He did that easily today, but he’s still raw and green.”
Yendall said he liked how the gelding relaxed before putting the race away quickly when asked for his sprint.
“Once I gave him a squeeze up, he just smoked them,” Yendall said.
