Sail Session has emerged as the Tabtouch favourite for Saturday’s Listed Schweppes-J.C. Roberts Stakes (1800m) at Ascot.
The Dan Morton-trained three-year-old has earned widespread admiration following a commanding 1500m victory at Ascot last weekend and is now set for a quick turnaround into this weekend’s feature race.
After breaking his maiden over 1800m at Ascot in January, Sail Session has hit peak form with two wins and a second from his past three starts at the track.
An Oakland Park Stud product, Sail Session steps up to stakes company for the first time, having bypassed the Challenge Stakes (1500m) and Lex Piper Stakes (1600m) path.
All Grunt, who placed in both those races, was the initial favourite when markets opened on Wednesday but has since drifted from $2.70 to $3.10.
Sail Session opened at $3.40, briefly moved to $3.50, but is now the market leader at $2.80. With Discretion is next at $6, while Superfluous is priced at $8.50.
Morton believes Sail Session is a progressive three-year-old on an upward trajectory, with a potential tilt at the WA Derby (2400m) in April.
“We’ve definitely timed it so he’ll be around for a Derby,” Morton said on Tabradio. “He’s definitely tracking in the right direction.”
“We’re yet to see if he’s a genuine stayer at the end of it, but I feel he’s going to be very competitive in the next couple at least.”
“We’ll back up on Saturday, and given it wasn’t an over-taxing run and we got a nice gallop into him, it was pleasing. It looks like he’s come through the race really well.”
Sail Session has drawn gate seven and will again be ridden by top jockey Lucy Fiore, who is in excellent form after an Ascot treble last weekend and a double at Wednesday’s mid-week city meeting.
Luke Campbell will take the reins on Morton’s second J.C. Roberts Stakes contender, Net Zero, who has drawn gate eight.
“I feel like we have a couple of nice boys,” Morton said. “I think Net Zero is going to be a genuine stayer come Derby time.”
“I’m pleased where we’re at with the boys. It’s going to be an interesting time when all the pieces come together.”
Tabtouch has Net Zero rated a $23 chance, trimmed from $31 with online betting sites.
Morton won the J.C. Roberts Stakes two years ago with Another Chino and previously with Scenic Shot in 2006.
Morton also noted that Ron’s Finalflutter has done nothing wrong ahead of her clash in the Listed Natasha Stakes (2200m).
