A set of blinkers and a quick back-up has provided the connections of Salty Pearl with a rich prize at Caulfield.
The Ciaron Maher stable had no qualms about backing Salty Pearl up into the $500,000 VOBIS Platinum Guineas (1600m) on Saturday after the filly had chased home the smart Sass Appeal in a Stakes race at Flemington last week.
Having successfully backed the filly up in the space of eight days previously, the Maher stable again pulled off the ploy with an impressive result.
Sent out the $2.05 favourite under John Allen, Salty Pearl raced to a 2-¾ length win from Silvasista ($41) with Wetumpka ($61) a further 1-½ lengths away third.
National Assistant Trainer for the Maher stable, Jack Turnbull, said the application of blinkers for the second time had made Salty Pearl travel sweetly throughout the 1600m contest.
“She was always in control,” Turnbull said.
“The blinkers made her travel and she took John everywhere and when he asked her to poke into a hole at about the 450 (metres), she was there straight away.
“That’s when you knew she was going to be there for a long way and in the straight they spanned wide and they were coming from everywhere, but her class shone through.
“It’s the second time we’ve backed her up for a second victory.
“We had to go back from the draw last start, and we thought her run was huge, but we were beaten by a classy filly.
“She’s very consistent and building a fantastic record.”
Turnbull said the stable was conscious of how much racing Salty Pearl has had up to this stage of her three-year-old season.
Saturday’s outing was her 12th career start for her third win, and Turnbull said the stable could head interstate depending on how she pulls up.
But Turnbull said she was unlikely to step out beyond 1600m.
“You could have the Queen Of The Turf Stakes which would be the top of the tree otherwise if she was in the right frame of mind and physically OK, you could possibly look at a Carbine Club Stakes as well,” Turnbull said.
“We’re conscious of where we want to get to and what she has done, but it’s good options to have.
“I think that’s her trip. Again, you could float the idea and try (a longer trip), but she’s very effective at this distance and I don’t think we need to change.”
