Classic Gem has done enough in her debut campaign with Dom Sutton to warrant having a crack at more Black Type races, but the Flemington trainer is lowering his sights in an attempt to get her on the board.
The three-year-old daughter of Maurice will be out to shed her maiden tag at her home track this Saturday.
Classic Gem, a $170,000 Inglis Premier yearling who was originally trained by Wendy Kelly, was bought by Sutton and stable clients after her fourth placing in last year’s Group 1 VRC Oaks (2500m) and has not finished further back than fifth in three runs this campaign.
After kicking off with a second placing in the Group 3 Alexandra Stakes (1600m), she finished fifth in the Group 3 Adrian Knox Stakes (2000m) before a fourth placing in the Group 1 ATC Oaks (2400m).
Sutton is happy with his purchase, but will be even happier once she gets a win beside her name.
“I think she’s already added value to what we paid for her,” Sutton said.
“Half the job is done, we just need her to go and win a race now.
“She’s multiple Stakes-placed, she’s run fourth in two Oaks and ran second in a Group 3 first-up for us down here.
“I think she can win a Listed race, but if she can win any race she’s going to be valuable as a broodmare.”
Sutton contemplated running Classic Gem in this weekend’s $300,000 Listed Andrew Ramsden (2800m) at Flemington, but has opted for stepping her back in trip to the 2000m event for three-year-olds on the same card.
A 78-rater, Classic Gem was the second-highest-rated runner among 35 entries for that event behind only Different Gravy, an 80-rater.
Saturday’s race will be her first since the ATC Oaks on April 11 with Sutton keeping her up to the mark with an 1100m jumpout at Werribee on May 1, in which she finished second, and Sutton sees a number of positives in this weekend’s scenario.
“We did have her in (last weekend) over in Adelaide but after the trip to Sydney, where she had the back-up into the Oaks up there, I think putting her on a truck and travelling her again probably wasn’t the right move,” Sutton said.
“So, we just kept her home. She’s had five weeks between runs, freshened up well and I like her at Flemington. I think Flemington is a lot better track for her than Morphettville.”
