Competitive against some of the best fillies of her generation in the spring, Latino Blend will make a low-key return at Rosehill in a bid to confirm some ambitious autumn plans.
The Hinchinbrook filly turned in a peak performance when beating all but Swift Witness second-up in the Silver Shadow Stakes in August after a luckless placing in a benchmark race at Kembla Grange.
She is following a similar template this time around and will kick off in Saturday’s Rosehill Bowling Club Handicap (1200m) where a competitive performance will springboard her into the Group 2 Light Fingers Stakes (1200m) a fortnight later.
“We will kick off on the weekend and then it’s two weeks until the Light Fingers if we decide to go there,” co-trainer Paul Snowden said.
“Hopefully she runs well and we’ve got a good base, and this can be a stepping stone into something a bit better.”
After her effort in the Silver Shadow, Latino Blend went on to contest two more legs of the Princess Series, finishing midfield in the Tea Rose Stakes (1400m) before an unplaced effort in the Flight Stakes (1600m).
The last step was a learning curve and the filly will be kept to sprinting this autumn.
“We probably made a bit of a blue after she ran so well over seven (furlongs in the Tea Rose) and then thinking she would go onto a mile,” Snowden said.
“She probably won’t go on that path again and she will be kept to six or seven furlongs max this prep and that fits in with what she needs to do anyway.”
Latino Blend has struck an intriguing race that features progressive gelding Rule Of Law who is chasing his fourth win in succession, Listed performer The Bopper seasoned campaigner Dream Circle and in-form stablemate Ranges.
Snowden says Ranges has continued to thrive since his last-start win at Rosehill and can again figure in the finish.
“Gee, he has gone to another level this horse,” Snowden said.
“He has really improved and he’s got that great racing style where he sits up in the first three or four depending on tempo and gives himself every chance.”
