GUINEAS TILT UNLIKELY FOR SASS APPEAL

Sass Appeal is unlikely to head towards March’s Group 1 Australian Guineas, despite an effortless victory in the Listed Desirable Stakes at Flemington on Saturday.

The daughter of So You Think started a well-supported $2.05 favourite and never looked in danger, shaking off Custom ($4.80) and holding a space over Ole Dancer ($2.40), who flew home after a tardy start.

But although the impressive performance saw Sass Appeal, now three wins from four starts, come into $10 for the Guineas, O’Brien suggested a different path.

With the prospect of facing Observer ($2.40) and Planet Red ($5) in March’s G1, the G2 Kewney Stakes for the fillies’ is the Melbourne Cup-winning trainer’s preference for now.

That will likely be her last run of the campaign, with O’Brien keen to get Sass Appeal prepared for a big spring, already eyeing the G1 Empire Rose as a possible target.

“I think we’ll go to the Kewney. It’s a big step to take on those horses that are seasoned up over the spring and the colts are a decent division with Observer looking top class,” he said.

“We’ve got a lot of hope that she can go to a very high level in the spring. She’s been well protected by us so far and she’s had a good build-up.

“I would expect the Kewney to be her last run and then we can hopefully get her to a really good race in the spring, something like the Myer on Derby Day.”

Lane was having his first raceday sit on Sass Appeal and was mightily impressed by her, expecting a rise in grade and trip to prove no issues.

The star hoop sees the fillies’ ability to completely relax in front as a positive looking towards bigger and better things.

“It was (as easy as it looked). She stepped a touch awkward and then she hit her stride quickly, the thing about her is she switches off completely in front,” he said,

“I was able to go really steady through the first part of the race then steadily build as we got into the race… from the 600 (metres) I made sure we quickened up and made sure it was hard for the ones chasing.

“Sixteen hundred (metres) will be no problem. Hopefully there’s some nice races ahead of her.”

Story by Darcy Cosgriff

Photos by Racing Photos