Racing: Trainer doubles up for Sapphire

Photo / Thinstock

Flemington trainer Nigel Blackiston will play a double hand at Caulfield in a bid to win his second feature race for the week.

Blackiston, who prepared last Monday's St Leger Stakes winner Right Of Refusal, is looking at the other end of the spectrum with two-year-olds Daneson and Deodoro in today's Listed Blue Sapphire Stakes (1200m).

Daneson bears the same name as the horse who finished third in the 1973 Melbourne Cup but Blackiston said sprinting looks the forte for his charge.

"I don't think he will be getting two miles," Blackiston said.

A $22,000 Scone yearling, Daneson is by Snippetson from unraced Danzero mare Two Left Feet who is a half-sister to Listed Hareeba Stakes winner Huxssen.

Daneson is the only two-year-old Blackiston has had to race this season while Deodoro will make his debut in the Blue Sapphire.

A New Zealand yearling who failed to make his $20,000 reserve when passed in for $14,000, Deodoro has shown Blackiston some promise but the Blue Sapphire will be his only run this campaign.

Lisa Cropp will ride Deodoro and St Leger-winning jockey Michael Walker has the mount on Daneson.

Daneson made an encouraging debut when beaten just over two lengths when finishing fourth to Gonna Be A Rokstar at Seymour on March 31 and was always prominent when second to Loot 'n' Run at Wangaratta on April 10.

"He is going super," Blackiston said.

"He has improved with each run and I'm quite pleased where we are with him at this stage."

Blackiston said he considered running Daneson at Warrnambool next Thursday but felt he would be better suited on what promises to be firmer ground, albeit it in a harder race, today.

"It could end up like a ploughed paddock by the third day of the Warrnambool carnival whereas Caulfield is a lovely track and it is a race which will give us a good guide on him," Blackiston said.

"I am sure he will run a nice race and won't disgrace himself," the trainer added.

The Blue Sapphire Stakes, now in its seventh year, was the first feature win for unbeaten champion Black Caviar who won it by six lengths at her second race start in 2009.

- AAP