Futurity Falls to Thorn Park’s Suavito

The G1 Futurity S. was supposed to be heavy favorite Dissident (Aus) (Sebring {Aus})’s stomping ground, however the pint-sized Suavito (NZ) (Thorn Park {Aus}) finished with a late burst to lift her first top-level victory and deny that rival his fifth Group 1 win. The bay tracked an eager Dissident in fifth perched two deep through the early stages before keeping closer contact with the leaders leaving the bend. Shifted to the extreme outside with 200 meters left, Suavito put awaySmokin’ Joey (Aus) (Encosta de Lago {Aus}) to her inside and kicked away to win in style. Dissident stayed gamely on to be third. 

Suavito, a consistent campaigner at the group level started off her season with a win in a plate race here Aug. 30, but, although never out of the top three, wouldn’t return to the winner’s circle until four starts later in the G3 Eliza Park International S. Oct. 25. She annexed the 2000-meter G2 Momentum Energy S. Nov. 8 and was shortening up for the Futurity’s seven-furlong distance. Originally targeting the G3 Mannerism S. earlier on the card, winning trainer Nigel Blackiston opted for the weight-for-age Futurity instead. 

“She was first-up and I though she’d end up carrying 59 [kilograms] against the mares,” said Blackiston to racenet.com.au. “I thought the tempo would be a little more forgiving in the Futurity and it worked out perfectly. [Jockey] Damien [Oliver] knows her so well and he gave her a beautiful ride. The Blamey was the race we were looking at next for her, but now we have the pleasant task of a Group 1 penalty, so I will see how she comes out of this before making a decision.”

Saturday, Caulfield, Australia
ITALKTRAVEL FUTURITY S.-G1, A$400,000 (US$312,420), CAU, 2-28, 3yo/up, 7fT, 1:23.05, gd. 
1–sSUAVITO (NZ), 126, m, 4, by Thorn Park (Aus) 
     1st Dam: Queen Cha Cha (NZ), by High Chaparral (Ire) 
     2nd Dam: Chablis (GB), by Kingmambo 
     3rd Dam: Nicer (Ire), by Pennine Walk (Ire) 
O-I J Lewis, Mrs K M Lewis, Mr P Latoszynski, Mrs D 
Anderson, M Bowden, H J Loh, D Godfrey, A J 
McIntyre, Mrs N D McIntyre, P M Humphreys, Mrs K 
L Humphreys, R D Cotter, M Laughlin, Mrs C Laughlin 
& M F Racing (Mgr: V Moro); B-IDL Racing Ltd; 
T-Nigel Blackiston; J-Damien Oliver. A$240,000. 
Lifetime Record: 16-6-4-3, A$755,550. Click for the
eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree. Werk Nick Rating: D+.
2–Smokin’ Joey (Aus), 130, g, 7, Encosta de Lago (Aus) 
–Dalzing (Aus), by Blazing Sword (Aus). O-M Lanteri 
& J Lanteri; B-J & A Lanteri; T-Wez Hunter. 
A$72,000. 
3–Dissident (Aus), c, 4, Sebring (Aus)–Diana’s Secret 
(Aus), by Anabaa. (A$210,000 yrl ‘12 MMGCYS). 
O-Newgate Dissident Syndicate, China Horse Club, M 
Sandblom, One For The Boys, When In Rome, S 
Hunt, Eagle Rise, O Egan, J Mazzarella, M 
Notarfrancesco, Segenhoe, J H B Stallions, Love 
Racing, Kia-Ora Stud, Gold Front, Laurel Oak 
Dissident & Burnewang North Pastoral; B-Widden 
Stud Australia Pty Ltd; T-Peter Moody. A$36,000. 
Margins: 1 1/4, 3/4, 1 1/4. Odds: 9.00, 14.00, 0.44. 
Also Ran: Entirely Platinum (NZ), Guest of Honour (Ire), Bull Point (Aus), Mister Milton (Aus), Driefontein (Aus). 
Click for the Racing Post result, or the free brisnet.com catalogue-style pedigree. VIDEO, sponsored by Fasig-Tipton.