Pisces has Coleman to contend with, but Godolphin’s Melbourne team is drawing a line through Bittercreek to back their prospects of upsetting the Golden Slipper runner-up in Saturday’s Blue Sapphire Stakes at Caulfield.
The James Cummings-trained gelding was an unlucky second behind Bittercreek in the Group 3 Red Anchor Stakes (1200m) at his first run back from a spell.
Bittercreek was nominated for the $500,000 Blue Sapphire and was the main danger to Coleman in all-in markets but the Corstens/Larkin team have instead headed towards the Group 1 Sir Rupert Clarke Stakes and James Cummings’ Melbourne foreman Nacim Dilmi figures if he is a chance there, it augurs well for Pisces’ chances in the Group 3 over 1400m.
“He was very good at Moonee Valley on Cox Plate Day, he was strong late after he was held up for a little bit and beaten by a talented horse, Bittercreek, and if he wasn’t held up he’s near enough winning that race.
“If he gets a good run Saturday, we’re quite confident he’ll run a big race.”
Pisces, a $5 chance in early betting, has drawn barrier two in the Blue Sapphire Stakes, meaning he will start to the immediate inside of $2.50 favourite Coleman.
The son of Frosted has not won since taking out a two-year-old handicap at Newcastle on May 11, six runs ago, but he has not finished further back than fourth, including two second placings when beaten less than half-a-length.
They were back-to-back runs at Flemington in June and Dilmi said the Blue Sapphire emerged as a late-spring target at the end of his winter campaign.
“He runs well without winning, which is frustrating, but we’ve had the Blue Sapphire in mind a long way out,” Dilmi said.
“Last start at Moonee Valley, if he did win that was a bonus, but we were very happy with the run.”
James Mcdonald, who rode Pisces for the first time in the Red Anchor Stakes, retains the ride for the Blue Sapphire Stakes.
