Group One winner Sizzling is on target for Saturday’s Blue Sapphire at Caulfield following an impressive win in a Flemington jump-out.
Trainer Kelso Wood was glowing in his praise for Sizzling after he won an 800m jump-out on the steeple grass at Flemington last Friday morning.
“He gave the leader four lengths at one stage but picked it up and won going away by nearly a length,” Wood said.
“Since he’s been in Melbourne he’s been going enormous. There have been no hiccups whatsover with him.”
The jump-out erased any doubts Wood had whether Sizzling would adapt to the anti-clockwise racing direction.
“He went around the turns without any problems at all and I couldn’t be happier going into the race at Caulfield,” he said.
Sizzling has not raced since winning the Group One TJ Smith (1600m) at Eagle Farm on June 9 when he defeated the Gai Waterhouse-trained Kabayan.
The Blue Sapphire will be Sizzling’s only lead-up run before his major Melbourne goal, the Group One Coolmore Stud Stakes (1200m) at Flemington on November 3.
Meanwhile trainer Robert Heathcote has declared Buffering a certain starter in Saturday’s Group Two Schillaci Stakes after he suffered a bad reaction to an inoculation for a possible trip to Hong Kong in December.
“He was off colour for a day after he had the injection but he’s 100 per cent now and his blood count is perfect,” Heathcote said.
“The vet told me his coat has a real glow to it and I’ll be flying down to Melbourne to watch his final gallop.
“I’m extremely confident about his chances in the Schillaci.”
Heathcote also expects Solzhenitsyn to appreciate the step up in journey in Saturday’s Group One Toorak Handicap (1600m) at Caulfield.
