Blinkers key as Salty Pearl dominates VOBIS Platinum Guineas
Equipping Salty Pearl with blinkers and entering her on short rest has yielded a handsome payday for her owners at Caulfield.
After the filly trailed the capable Sass Appeal in a Stakes contest at Flemington just seven days prior, the Ciaron Maher barn confidently proceeded with the $500,000 VOBIS Platinum Guineas (1600m) this past Saturday.
The stable had prior experience triumphing with this back-to-back approach for the filly within eight days, and they replicated the success impressively here.
Under John Allen aboard the $2.05 favourite, Salty Pearl powered home 2-¾ lengths clear of Silvasista ($41), with Wetumpka ($61) filling third spot a further 1-½ lengths behind.
National Assistant Trainer Jack Turnbull from the Maher stable explained that the blinkers, used for the second time, enabled Salty Pearl to handle the 1600m race with ease.
"She was always in control," Turnbull said.
"The blinkers made her travel and she took John everywhere and when he asked her to poke into a hole at about the 450 (metres), she was there straight away.
That's when you knew she was going to be there for a long way and in the straight they spanned wide and they were coming from everywhere, but her class shone through.
It's the second time we've backed her up for a second victory.
We had to go back from the draw last start, and we thought her run was huge, but we were beaten by a classy filly.
She's very consistent and building a fantastic record."
The trainer highlighted awareness of Salty Pearl's busy schedule during her current three-year-old year.
Her 12th start resulted in a third career triumph on Saturday, prompting considerations for interstate raids post-recovery.
That said, Turnbull doubts she'll stretch past 1600m.
"You could have the Queen Of The Turf Stakes which would be the top of the tree otherwise if she was in the right frame of mind and physically OK, you could possibly look at a Carbine Club Stakes as well," Turnbull said.
"We're conscious of where we want to get to and what she has done, but it's good options to have.
I think that's her trip. Again, you could float the idea and try (a longer trip), but she's very effective at this distance and I don't think we need to change."
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