Neither of Alex Rae’s Creswick Sprint Series heat winners will be at Flemington for this Saturday’s final, but the young Cranbourne trainer is still a chance of lifting the trophy.
Progressive gelding Blankfield will represent the stable in the $175,000 Listed 1200-metre event for three-year-olds.
I’m Foxing, who brilliantly won the final Creswick heat at Caulfield last Saturday, is being reserved for the Lightning Stakes in Adelaide and the final has come up too quickly for June 20 heat winner I’mateez, but it is anything but a throw at the stumps for Blankfield.
The Blue Point gelding has won his only two starts this time in, both over the distance of this Saturday’s race, and Rae said his attention firmly shifted to the Creswick Sprint Series Final after his last-start win on Caulfield’s Heath track.
“The 1200 down the straight is going to suit him,” Rae said.
“It might be a bit of a stiffer test, but he’s going really well and we’ve been targeting the race the last three weeks, so he’ll be a chance for sure.”
Blankfield narrowly defeated Prestar in a benchmark 64 race at Caulfield on May 27 and third in that race was Afterberna, who won at Caulfield last Saturday and is also an entry for the Creswick Final.
Barari and Wise Inlaw, who ran the quinella in the Creswick heat at Flemington on June 6, Group 3 placegetter Recuperato and blueblood filly Chains Of Love are among the other entries for the Creswick Final.
Blankfield’s rise has coincided with a career-best run for Rae, who has prepared 15 winners from his past 48 starters.
I’mateez provided him with only his second winner at Flemington two weekends ago, almost eight years after his first, and he is a chance to again double his tally this weekend.
Enna’s Dream is entered for the Leilani Series Final, in which she will be out to make it back-to-back wins after victory at Murray Bridge on June 13.
“She’s good enough to run well there,” Rae said.
“Obviously it’s going to be a stiff test, but she’ll bob up in a race like that one day.”
Enna’s Dream was one of 16 entries for the Leilani Final, a 1400m event for fillies and mares that could also include Fancify, Lady Jones, Grid Girl, Duchess Zou and Miss Aria.
