Will Larkin would happily take the $300,000 winner’s cheque from this Saturday’s Blue Sapphire Stakes with Bittercreek, but he has his eyes on an even bigger prize at the Caulfield card.
The young trainer and his partners, Leon and Troy Corstens, are keen to see the three-year-old son of Snitzel contest the Group 1 Sir Rupert Clarke Stakes (1400m).
Bittercreek was among 24 entries for the $1.5 million event when they closed on Monday but is the second lowest-rated horse among them, meaning he could battle to gain a start in the field limited to 16 and four emergencies.
“We want to get him into the Rupert Clarke with a light weight, but with his rating he’s going to be borderline getting a start, but if not we’ve got the back up option of the Blue Sapphire,” Larkin said.
“He’s got a tremendous pedigree, being a Snitzel colt, so to get that Group 1 win would be all the better for him and if we can sneak our way in we’ll be having a crack.”
Bittercreek will step up to 1400m for the first time this campaign whichever race he tackles with the best of his three runs for far in spring being his Group 3 Red Anchor Stakes (1200m) win at The Valley on Cox Plate Day.
He backed up into the Group 1 Coolmore Stud Stakes, which was won comfortably by Switzerland, but a poorly-timed peek into an adjoining barrier cost him any winning hope.
“Just before the gates opened Benny (Allen) shouted out ‘no’, because he tried to get his head over the barrier next to him, and that left him on the back foot and he missed it by three.
“So, he was a long way off them and I still thought he found the line pretty well but that’s a race where you can’t afford to give those horses a start so he did a good job.
“Plus, we now know that 1200 is probably short of his best and he is going to get better as he steps out over further.”
Among the other Sir Rupert Clarke Stakes entries are Ciaron Maher-trained stars Southport Tycoon, Jimmysstar and Another Wil, Group 1 winners Private Eye, Pinstriped, Climbing Star and Tuvalu, Lawrence Stakes winner Gentleman Roy and fellow three-year-old Coleman.
Coleman is also among 24 nominations for the Group 3 Blue Sapphire Stakes and is the only entry with a higher official handicapper rating than Bittercreek.