Nigel Blackiston has a plan to get his UK import Ominous to the Caulfield Cup.
Like most trainers with quality stayers and a similar mission, Saturday week’s Group 3 $150,000 Naturalism Stakes (2000m) at Caulfield may hold the key to that mission becoming a reality.
The ballot-free prize into the Caulfield Cup for the winner of the Naturalism is ‘gold’ to owners and trainers, and Blackiston is well aware of the prize.
“I was very happy with his first-up run, he finished his race off really well,” Blackiston told Racing Network.
“He’ll run in the 1700-metre race on Saturday at Flemington.
"He’s really enjoying himself and in good form,” he said.
Blackiston said it had normally been at the horse’s third run in a preparation when he really fired.
“If he keeps on improving the way he is I’d like to get him to the Caulfield Cup, so he’ll run in the Naturalism first,” he said.
He doesn’t believe the horse is a Melbourne Cup type of stayer.
“I don’t think he’s a two-mile horse (3200m) – the Caulfield Cup is his race,” he added.
Stablemate Let’s Make Adeal will also go to the Naturalism and Blackiston said she would wear blinkers in that race, as he feels she hasn’t been concentrating as well as she could be.