The John Sadler stable is after some early black type with impressive debut winner Yowie.
The two-year-old scored over 1000m at Sandown on March 16 and is earmarked to run in the Listed Redoute’s Choice Stakes (1100m) at Caulfield on Saturday.
Sadler’s son, and assistant trainer, Tom said Yowie had progressed nicely and was looking forward to seeing the filly step out on Saturday.
“She had a trial on the course proper at Pakenham over a half-mile (800m) on Tuesday and she went really, really well,” Sadler said.
“We had another horse in the trial, Altai Ranger who is genuine Saturday grade. She was in there to have a maintenance gallop and she just cruised behind him and probably wins the trial if she was asked to.”
With Damian Lane, who rode Yowie to victory at Sandown booked to ride in Sydney next weekend, Melbourne premiership leader Jye Mcneil has been booked for the ride.
McNeil partnered Yowie in the jump-out at Pakenham and liked what he felt beneath him.
“Jye trialled her and he rated her not far off the good two-year-olds he has won on this year which is a good indication of how well she is going,” Sadler said.
How far Yowie progresses this campaign will be determined by her result on Saturday.
But one thing both Sadler and his father are disappointed with is Yowie not being eligible for The Showdown, a $1 million race for two-year-olds at Caulfield on April 23.
“If she does happen to win on Saturday it will make her very valuable because she does have a super page,” Sadler said.
“It’s disappointing that she is not eligible for The Showdown, but we won’t be disappointed if she wins a Group 1 in the spring.
“After Saturday we will probably have a look at what else is around, but she still has a bit of growing to do as well, so I think whatever she does now she will improve on as a spring three-year-old.”
