Talented young trainer Dominic Sutton has progressed rapidly in little time, and he aims for yet another milestone in the Australian Oaks at Randwick as he seeks his initial Sydney victory on one of the sport’s premier occasions.
From his debut runner under his own name in March 2024, Sutton has secured Group 1 glory with Feroce in last year’s Australian Guineas, and After Summer placed third in the VRC Oaks last spring.
That filly narrowly missed providing Sutton with his breakthrough Sydney success in the Vinery Stud Stakes (2000m) a fortnight back, and together with stablemate Classic Gem, she has another opportunity in the Australian Oaks (2400m) this Saturday.
Regardless of whether Sutton claims the top honour, securing spots for two horses in a Group 1 event represents a solid accomplishment for his small-scale operation housing 30-35 horses in training.
“It’s our second full year of training so it’s a big achievement, but we’re fortunate we’ve got the right calibre of horse to do it with,” Sutton said.
“When we started training, this is where we wanted to be, competing on the big stages at the big carnivals in the big races.
“There has been a lot of hard work in the background so hopefully it can pay off.”
After Summer has stayed in Sydney following her close second to Kiwi Belle Cheval in the Vinery, whereas Classic Gem returns after a strong fifth to Oaks fancy Profoundly in the Adrian Knox Stakes (2000m) last weekend.
The former was collared before rallying gamely to fall just short last time, and Sutton anticipates After Summer will thrive with the step up in trip on Saturday.
“She doesn’t possess a huge change-up of speed or gear. It was more her stamina kicking in towards the end,” he said.
“They probably had a quicker turn of foot than what she did when the race was unfolding, but obviously up to the 2400 metres is really going to suit.”
Classic Gem also ran in the VRC Oaks during spring, ending fifth, and assuming she copes with the quick seven-day turnaround, Sutton sees potential for her to contend late.
“She’s probably going to be a bit of a forgotten horse on Saturday,” Sutton said.
“Her run last week was very good considering she was wide the trip with no cover, and she got a little bit lost the Sydney way the first time when the race was unfolding around the bend.
“Once she picked herself up, she was very strong to the line. She’s another filly that will relish the trip.”
The pair are not far apart in betting, with After Summer at $9.50 and Classic Gem at $14, a view Sutton shares as evenly matched.
“We work them together quite a lot at home. Classic Gem is probably slightly sharper in her work, but After Summer is an out-and-out stayer and she’s going to be very strong at the end of 2400,” he said.
“You’d probably be leaning towards After Summer. She’s got a better barrier and given what she did last start, but there’s not a huge amount between the two of them.”
After Summer draws barrier three with Billy Egan aboard, while Damian Lane takes the ride on Classic Gem from gate nine.
Check out the Australian betting sites for the best racing odds ahead of the Australian Oaks.
