IT is rare that a trainer sets an unraced two-year-old the task of travelling interstate to make his or her debut in a Listed race but such is that’s the case with Victorian trainer John Sadler and his well bred filly Commanding Star.
The filly will line up in the Motors Elwick Stakes over 1100 metres at Tattersall’s Park in Hobart on Sunday.
Sadler targeted the $100,000 Listed race some time back but he was content not to trial here or give her a start in her home state prior to crossing Bass Strait.
“The filly showed me enough to warrant going to Tasmania for a crack at a Listed race on debut,” Sadler said.
“She has always shown a bit and I’ve liked her from day one.”
“I put her in a jump out last week and she did what I expected her to do so we proceeded with our original plan,” he said.
Commanding Star, by Commands from US mare Precious Days, will be ridden by Glen Boss.
Sadler said he has not been a regular visitor to Tasmania but that changes from this season.
“I’ve been looking at the Tasmanian racing for some time now and I reckon it is heading in the right direction and this carnival offers plenty of opportunities for interstate trainers if we are prepared to travel,” he said.
“I’m not saying this filly can just come and win because the local two-year-olds have plenty of ability but I am confident that this filly will be very competitive if she travels well and from all accounts that is the case,” he said.
Commanding Star is being stabled with Gary White at his Brighton training complex and she arrived in good order today (Thursday).
The race boasts the best of Tasmania’s two-year-olds with Grand Tycoon (x Written Tycoon) unbeaten from four starts and will probably still start favourite.
Spinning Jenny is one from one after scoring impressively on debut in Launceston and Geegees Velvet, a half-sister to Geegees Blackflash, chased home Grand Tycoon in the Alpha Bowl in Launceston at her debut.
Reigning premier training combination David and Scott Brunton will saddle up first-starter Ritzy Bar that must have shown something on the training track because she has not been sighted at the trials.
Miss Elsa has been placed at her past three starts and boasts the most race experience of the eight runners.