The Tom Dabernig stable is gang tackling a Stakes race at Caulfield with three mares at different stages of their preparations.
Cleo Cat, a winner at her two starts this preparation, heads the trio with Romantic Choice looking for a breakthrough win for the campaign while Fickle makes her return to racing in Saturday’s Listed Bel Esprit Stakes (1100m).
Dabernig has a lot of time for all three mares and pointed to Cleo Cat being the inform mare heading into Saturday’s contest after her last start win in the Group 3 Proud Miss Stakes (1200m) at Morphettville on May 10.
“She’s been pretty straight forward since Adelaide,” Dabernig said.
“She worked on the course proper at Warrnambool on Tuesday. We had seven millimetres of rain overnight, so it was probably a Soft 6, it was perfect for galloping on, and she worked well.
“This will be a tough test again, but she hasn’t missed a beat since.”
While the campaign of Cleo Cat has been smooth sailing, it has been far from ideal for Romantic Choice who has finished out of the money in her two runs for the campaign.
Dabernig held high hopes for the mare after she lowered the colours of Group 1 Oakleigh Plate runner-up She’s Bulletproof earlier in the year.
“She ran very well first-up in that Country Discovery at Echuca, but didn’t have a lot of luck and then we ran her in the Wangoom,” Dabernig said.
“That track probably wasn’t too her liking from barrier one. We led and the track was deteriorating, and it didn’t work out for her.
“She’s had a little jump-out since, just to keep her ticking over, and she was never off the bit, so she can bounce back.”
Fickle is a speed mare that has been lightly raced and that won four of her seven starts for Dabernig since joining his team after starting out with Peter and Paul Snowden.
A well-bred mare by I Am Invincible, Dabernig is keen to chase Black Type with the four-year-old who has not raced since finishing last at Sandown in January but has had three trials to prepare for Saturday’s return.
“I think she had come to the end of it at Sandown last time,” Dabernig said.
“It’s not confirmed yet, but I have a feeling she’s better on a track like Caulfield or Moonee Valley. I feel they’re better shaped for her, being an on-pace horse.
“I probably would have preferred 1000 metres for her first-up, but because it’s Listed and the time of year, I thought we’d give it a try.”
Dabernig said the beach training at Warrnambool suited Fickle who came to his stable after two runs in Sydney after feeling her knees.
“I think she’s grown out of those problems,” Dabernig said.
“She’s been nice and sound since we’ve had her and I think a softer track, although she’s not proven on them, should technically suit her.”
Dabernig said the Group 3 Sir John Monash Stakes (1100m) and the Group 3 Bletchingly Stakes (1200m), both at Caulfield, are likely to be in upcoming plans for the three mares.
