Sandown hit-out for Nigel Blackiston pair

Ballarat trainer Nigel Blackiston will take a two-horse team to Sandown as he looks to build the career of one galloper while the other may race for the last time.

Last start Sandown winner Subrising runs in the Ladbrokes Yard Comments Handicap (1400m) as she looks to build her career towards a potential Group 1 target, while Passione runs in the Ladbrokes Odds Surge Handicap (1300m) before a potential date at stud.

Blackiston says Subrising has a long spring ahead with the potential of running in the Group 1 Thousand Guineas (1600m) at Caulfield in November.

Subrising overcame a checkered passage to win at Sandown on August 6 over 1200m when resuming and will appreciate the 1400m contest on Wednesday.

“She had a quiet time after her first-up win,” Blackiston said.

“She’s got a long spring and I’m hoping that she might measure up to the Thousand Guineas which has been pushed back into November now, so we’ve got to space her runs and see how we go.

“But this is a nice stepping stone.

“The 1400 metres is nice, but she does go up four kilos on her win against the boys, but she’s only a kilo off the minimum and a kilo off the topweight.”

In her return run, Subrising was slow into stride which afforded jockey Robbie Downey, who has the ride again on Wednesday, time to avoid the fallen Luke Campbell who was dislodged at the 800m mark.

“Had she jumped with them, she might have got more tangled up,” Blackiston said.

“She didn’t arrive until very late when she won first-up, so the 1400 metres will hopefully give her the chance to stay in touch a bit more and be there at the finish again.

“She’s still not fully wound up, but she’s going along nicely.”

While Subrising still has her future ahead, Blackiston said Passione was possibly racing for the last time before a potential date with Toronado.

After starting her career in New Zealand, Passione has scored wins at Caulfield and Sandown and is coming off a last start sixth at Moonee Valley on July 29.

“She’s been a good honest mare for me,” Blackiston said.

“She’s won two in town so it would be nice if she could go out on a winning note for Cambridge Stud who have been great supporters of the stable.”