Short rest and blinkers have handed Salty Pearl’s owners a lucrative success at Caulfield.
One week on from placing behind the impressive Sass Appeal at Flemington in Stakes company, the Ciaron Maher squad eagerly entered the filly in the $500,000 VOBIS Platinum Guineas (1600m) over the weekend.
Past proof of the eight-day freshen-up working wonders for her paved the way for yet another victory from the Maher camp.
The $2.05 favourite Salty Pearl, partnered by John Allen, triumphed by 2-¾ lengths from $41 shot Silvasista, leaving Wetumpka ($61) 1-½ lengths back in third.
From the Maher stable, National Assistant Trainer Jack Turnbull revealed the blinkers’ second outing kept Salty Pearl cruising nicely across the 1600m.
“She was always in control,” Turnbull said.
“The blinkers made her travel and she took John everywhere and when he asked her to poke into a hole at about the 450 (metres), she was there straight away.
That’s when you knew she was going to be there for a long way and in the straight they spanned wide and they were coming from everywhere, but her class shone through.
It’s the second time we’ve backed her up for a second victory.
We had to go back from the draw last start, and we thought her run was huge, but we were beaten by a classy filly.
She’s very consistent and building a fantastic record.”
The stable monitors closely how much action Salty Pearl has seen in her three-year-old schedule.
With Saturday’s 12th run yielding her third win, options include trips away from home if she bounces back well.
Turnbull feels 1600m remains her limit.
“You could have the Queen Of The Turf Stakes which would be the top of the tree otherwise if she was in the right frame of mind and physically OK, you could possibly look at a Carbine Club Stakes as well,” Turnbull said.
“We’re conscious of where we want to get to and what she has done, but it’s good options to have.
I think that’s her trip. Again, you could float the idea and try (a longer trip), but she’s very effective at this distance and I don’t think we need to change.”
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