Trainer Liam Birchley is confident Sagatona will soon lose her maiden tag but admits she has things against her in her Eagle Farm return.
Sagatona will line up in Saturday’s Winning Edge Two-Year-Old (1000m) at her first start since a fast closing sixth behind Unencumbered in the Magic Millions Classic on January 11.
The Real Saga filly showed she was up to top class with an unlucky third to Unencumbered in the B J McLachlan Stakes.
Sagatona had an easy barrier trial at Doomben on April 8 but Birchley believes the 1000m could be a shade short from her wide barrier.
“I have always made it clear she would be a filly who would appreciate 1400 and hopefully 1600 metres,” Birchley said.”
“We have kept the blinkers on her but anyway she will get back here from barrier 15.
“There looks to be a lot of pace and she will be running home hard but they might be a bit slick at the 1000 metres.”
Birchley is sure Sagatona is up to the Group Two BRC Sires (1350m) on May 24 and the Group One J J Atkins Stakes (1600m) on June 8.
Sagatona has earned nearly $100,000 but most of that is in bonus payments and Sagatona’s official $25,000 prize money would currently have her only on the cusp of getting into the big Group races.
Birchley isn’t ruling out the Sydney and Melbourne Spring carnivals for Sagatona but they are unlikely at this stage.
“In the long term she is more likely to be aimed at the Magic Millions Three-Year-Old races.”
Boom apprentice Travis Wolfgram, who has ridden 53 winners this season, will partner Sagatona.
