Trainer Dominic Sutton, a talented newcomer, has climbed fast through the ranks and looks to bag another career first in the Australian Oaks at Randwick, gunning for his maiden Sydney score amid racing’s elite fixtures.
Sutton’s training journey kicked off independently in March 2024, yielding Group 1 spoils with Feroce in last season’s Australian Guineas and a third for After Summer in the spring VRC Oaks.
In the Vinery Stud Stakes (2000m) a couple of weeks ago, that filly went perilously close to Sutton’s Sydney initiation win, now linking with Classic Gem for the Australian Oaks (2400m) on Saturday.
His modest stable of 30-35 horses makes two Group 1 runners a fine result, prize or not.
“It’s our second full year of training so it’s a big achievement, but we’re fortunate we’ve got the right calibre of horse to do it with,” Sutton said.
“When we started training, this is where we wanted to be, competing on the big stages at the big carnivals in the big races.
“There has been a lot of hard work in the background so hopefully it can pay off.”
After Summer stuck around Sydney after runner-up spot to Kiwi Belle Cheval in the Vinery, as Classic Gem comes off a promising fifth, late charge to Profoundly in the Adrian Knox Stakes (2000m) last Saturday.
She was nabbed before a bold recovery to narrowly go under previously, with Sutton sure the added ground suits After Summer this weekend.
“She doesn’t possess a huge change-up of speed or gear. It was more her stamina kicking in towards the end,” he said.
“They probably had a quicker turn of foot than what she did when the race was unfolding, but obviously up to the 2400 metres is really going to suit.”
Fifth in the VRC Oaks last spring, Classic Gem could shine if managing the seven-day freshen-up, per Sutton.
“She’s probably going to be a bit of a forgotten horse on Saturday,” Sutton said.
“Her run last week was very good considering she was wide the trip with no cover, and she got a little bit lost the Sydney way the first time when the race was unfolding around the bend.
“Once she picked herself up, she was very strong to the line. She’s another filly that will relish the trip.”
After Summer is $9.50 favourite over Classic Gem at $14 in markets, matching Sutton’s assessment of near-equals.
“We work them together quite a lot at home. Classic Gem is probably slightly sharper in her work, but After Summer is an out-and-out stayer and she’s going to be very strong at the end of 2400,” he said.
“You’d probably be leaning towards After Summer. She’s got a better barrier and given what she did last start, but there’s not a huge amount between the two of them.”
From draw three, Billy Egan rides After Summer, Damian Lane handling Classic Gem in barrier nine.
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