Sass Appeal's spring targets include Group 1 assignments

Trainer Danny O'Brien has charted a bold spring course for Sass Appeal, with three Group 1 races in his sights as the talented mare returns at Flemington on Saturday.

The daughter of So You Think commences her campaign in the VRC Membership Renewals Open (1410m) after a remarkable three-year-old season which concluded with a victory in the Kewney Stakes.

Sass Appeal has had only five starts, finishing second on debut at Sandown before stringing together four consecutive wins, including her Group 2 success at Flemington in March.

O'Brien opted to conclude her autumn campaign immediately following that win, believing an early spell would ensure she was perfectly primed for the spring.

The stable has already pencilled in the Sir Rupert Clarke Stakes, the Toorak Handicap, and the Empire Rose Stakes as her principal spring objectives.

"She went to the paddock early in the autumn after the first Saturday in March as she had raced through the summer, so we weren't keen to do too much more with her," O'Brien commented.

"The benefit of going out early was we were able to have her ready for the early part of the spring as we are hoping to get her to a Sir Rupert Clarke or a Toorak Handicap.

"She needs to win a race or two between now and those races to get her rating up to that sort of level and this looks a good starting point on Saturday."

While Sass Appeal was also nominated for the Aurie's Star Handicap, O'Brien determined the 1410m distance was a more fitting option.

The mare also gains an advantage at the weights, carrying 53kg compared to the weight she would have carried in the Group 3 sprint.

"She already has a good record at the 1400 (metres)," O'Brien noted.

"She's won twice at the course and distance, so we thought we would stick with what she does best and is already proven at. It's a lower rating race than what the Aurie's Star is, a Group 3, and she is a lot better handicapped in this."

O'Brien's plan is to give Sass Appeal another lead-up run in a similar Benchmark 100 race over 1400m at Caulfield on August 29 before stepping her up into elite company.

"There's only time to have two runs before potentially running in the Sir Rupert Clarke," O'Brien advised.

"She can run this weekend and then go four weeks to Memsie Stakes Day to a similar race there, another 1400-metre at Caulfield and then it's a three-week gap to the Sir Rupert Clarke. After that it's potentially the Toorak Handicap into the Empire Rose."

Notwithstanding the significant prizemoney and the recent elevation of The Golden Eagle to Group 1 status, O'Brien's preference is to keep Sass Appeal racing in Melbourne throughout the spring.

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