Specialism To Capitalise On Lack Of Star Power
10 May, 2019
Thoroughbred
Tough filly Specialism looks set to continue her winning ways tomorrow, when she lines up in the Bruno Ottavino Memorial Plate (1200m) at Ascot.
The Safeguard filly scored an impressive win over 1000m last Saturday, after she was held up for clear running for much of the straight.
Specialism will back-up off seven days for the first time tomorrow afternoon and trainer Paul Jordan said he was confident the filly would continue her winning ways.
“She’s a really good filly,” he told The Races WA.
“She went super last week and I think the back-up is fine.”
Prior to her last start win, Specialism finished fifth in the Group 3 Gimcrack Stakes (1100m), fifth in the Group 2 Karrakatta Plate (1200m) and second in the Group 3 WA Sires Produce Stakes (1400m).
Chloe Azzopardi takes the ride for the first time tomorrow, with Jordan electing to utilise her 3kg claim and bring the filly’s weight down to 55.5kg.
Specialism is a red-hot $1.70 favourite for the $70,000 event, ahead of Mia Dolce ($3.50) and Rocky Path ($6.50).
Jordan said Specialism, an earner of more than $320,000 from just seven starts, could continue racing into the start of the Belmont season.
“Looking at the two-year-old races now, you have three of Simon Miller’s fillies that aren’t there,” he said.
“The Karrakatta winner isn’t around, the Sires winner isn’t around and David Harrison’s horse Jericho Missile isn’t around either.
“It leaves the rest of the two-year-olds running around a little bit thin, unless there’s a good one we haven’t seen yet.”
Jordan said Mia Dolce, who has won both of her starts since the Karrakatta Plate would be the one for Specialism to beat, despite Specialism beating Mia Dolce home on each of the four times they have previously met.
Specialism is one of four favourites Azzopardi rides on the Ascot program, with the apprentice to team up with Deacalda ($1.80) in race five, Special Reward ($1.90) in race six and Soy Tan Rapido ($3.20) in race seven.
The Ascot meeting gets underway at 12.24pm.
Tim Walker