With the Morphettville finals day fast approaching, trainer Sarah Rutten is aiming to have a presence on that crucial day.
However, Rutten must first ensure her charges qualify for the finals and is banking on From The Block to be the horse to do so.
From The Block is set to compete in the Sportsbet Green Tick Handicap over 1200m at Morphettville on Saturday, where he will be joined by stablemate Eventually, who is commencing her new campaign.
Rutten had contemplated a trip to the upcoming Flemington carnival for From The Block, but if all goes to plan, the gelding will remain in South Australia to contend for Finals Day on November 21.
“We had been thinking of heading across the border to Flemington, but if he could qualify for one of the finals over here, it’s a chance for us South Australians to win some good prize money without having to travel interstate,” Rutten said.
“He’s tough, he’s fit and he seems to have come through last week’s run really well.”
Having won at Murray Bridge in September, From The Block carried 61kg to a fourth-place finish in benchmark 70 grade at Morphettville last week.
From The Block is stepping up to benchmark 84 grade on Saturday, but his weight is reduced to 56kg, and Connor Murtagh is back in the saddle.
“The other day he had to do it pretty hard with 61 kilos from barrier 16,” Rutten mentioned.
“I was happy with his effort. He’s a tough horse and it’s good having Connor back on board, even though it’s a tough race, full of smart horses.
“Even though he’s quite a big horse and he does carry weight well, the weight drop is nice on Saturday.”
Rutten commented that Saturday’s race will be far too short for Eventually, who is embarking on a campaign that might once again target the Adelaide Cup.
Eventually was victorious in the Lord Reims Stakes (2600m) at Morphettville before her eighth-place finish in the Adelaide Cup (3200m) in March, the mare’s most recent performance.
Rutten had intended for Eventually’s preparation to begin in the Murray Bridge Cup earlier this month, but minor setbacks caused a delay.
“Her rating is really tricky,” Rutten explained.
“She’s an 89-rater and here in Adelaide it’s hard to find anything suitable. I was trying to have her up for the Murray Bridge Cup, but that did not happen.
“This is her first-up run, and she’s pretty much using this as a trial, she will be out the back and hopefully closing off.
“They will be much too sharp at that trip for her.
“If she comes through it OK, we’ll go to the John Letts Cup (on November 3), which will be more like her first proper run of the campaign.
“I would have liked a 1400-metre race to kick her off, but there are none available with her rating.”
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