Just a week after finding group 1 success in Adelaide, young Melbourne trainer Henry Dwyer is hoping to uncover more black-type material at Caulfield on Saturday.
Last week Dwyer was successful in preparing Precious Gem to win the $300,000 Sangster Stakes in South Australia in an excellent training performance to have the six-year-old mare ready for a 1200-metre run that is generally not her best distance.
“It was a great effort. She had the right run and managed to hit the lead at the right time and the race was hers,” he said.
“She’s gone to the Gold Coast now for a week or so and will be prepared for sale on June 1, but she will stay in work even though she’s up for sale.”
On Saturday the trainer will monitor the performance of Tavi Bay in the Jericho Cup at Caulfield with a Queensland Oaks start in the balance.
Tavi Bay is pitted against the males at Caulfield but has the added advantage of wearing blinkers for the first time.
“We’ll just see how things work out. She’s nominated for the Queensland Oaks and if she can do really well here I’m certain the Queensland Oaks trip is well worth it,” he said.
“Her last two efforts have been very good and while tomorrow’s race will be tough it’s probably the yardstick we’re looking at as far as a trip north goes.”
Dwyer said that he was still training Precious Gem despite the mare heading to the sale ring on June 1 and will more than likely change hands once the sale is completed.
“She’s been on the Gold Coast for a week or so and she’ll stay in work for the next few weeks right up until the sale and once she goes through the ring the owners have the opportunity to run her in some good group races including the Dane Ripper Stakes,” he said.
“She was nice and fresh when we went to Adelaide but unfortunately we had her set for the Glen Logan Stud Stakes but we’ll have to drop that plan as we’ve got to be mindful it’s very close to the sale.
“She’ll make a lovely broodmare but she’s racing in career-best form and she’s likely to fetch $600,000 when she goes under the hammer and she’s also got the bonus of possibly not only racing in the winter but she could get more group 1 success come the spring.”
Article from SMH