Victorian mare Extreme Bliss has had her past two starts at Randwick and will be back at the Sydney track for a crack at a Group Three win in the Aspiration Quality.
Trainer David Brideoake also nominated Extreme Bliss for a Group Three 1600m-race for fillies and mares at Flemington on Saturday but settled on the Sydney race as the best option for the four-year-old who he bred and also part-owns.
“The quality is pretty good but then the quality in Melbourne in the same type of race was probably stronger,” Brideoake said.
“I was thinking which way I’d go but I thought the Sydney option was the best.”
Extreme Bliss takes on what Brideoake describes as a tough field, but he believes the mare deserves her chance to try to secure black-type.
Three starts ago Extreme Bliss won a 1600m-benchmark race at The Valley in Melbourne before winning a 1500m-benchmark 78 for fillies and mares at Randwick, coming from last.
After finishing fifth in another benchmark-78 over 1600m at Randwick, Extreme Bliss has had six weeks between runs with a Cranbourne barrier trial in between.
“A couple of starts ago in Sydney she won a 1500-metre race at Randwick and she broke a track record, so she is entitled to take her chance there,” Brideoake said.
“Andrew Mallyon has ridden her to a couple of city victories already and he’s going up to ride her.
“She’s probably advantaged if it’s a little bit wet, which doesn’t seem to be the case, but she’s entitled to take her spot in the race.
“She seems to go well with a bit of a break between her runs. Her work is good and she stayed fit.”
