With the finals day approaching at Morphettville, trainer Sarah Rutten is aiming to have runners on that significant day.
However, Rutten must first secure a spot in one of the finals and is pinning her hopes on From The Block to achieve this.
From The Block is slated to compete in the Sportsbet Green Tick Handicap (1200m) at Morphettville on Saturday, where he will be accompanied by his stablemate Eventually, who is commencing her racing campaign.
Rutten had previously considered a journey to the forthcoming Flemington carnival for From The Block, but if all proceeds as anticipated, the gelding will remain in South Australia to target Finals Day on November 21.
“We had been thinking of heading across the border to Flemington, but if he could qualify for one of the finals over here, it’s a chance for us South Australians to win some good prize money without having to travel interstate,” Rutten said.
“He’s tough, he’s fit and he seems to have come through last week’s run really well.”
Having secured a victory at Murray Bridge in September, From The Block carried 61kg to a fourth-place finish at Morphettville in benchmark 70 grade last week.
From The Block is now elevated to benchmark 84 grade for Saturday’s race, but his weight is reduced to 56kg, and jockey Connor Murtagh is back aboard.
“The other day he had to do it pretty hard with 61 kilos from barrier 16,” Rutten stated.
“I was happy with his effort. He’s a tough horse and it’s good having Connor back on board, even though it’s a tough race, full of smart horses.
“Even though he’s quite a big horse and he does carry weight well, the weight drop is nice on Saturday.”
Rutten indicated that Saturday’s race will be far too short for Eventually, who is beginning a campaign that might ultimately lead to the Adelaide Cup.
Eventually triumphed in the Lord Reims Stakes (2600m) at Morphettville before finishing eighth in the Adelaide Cup (3200m) in March, marking the mare’s most recent outing.
Rutten had intended to launch Eventually’s program in the Murray Bridge Cup earlier this month, but minor issues caused a delay.
“Her rating is really tricky,” Rutten explained.
“She’s an 89-rater and here in Adelaide it’s hard to find anything suitable. I was trying to have her up for the Murray Bridge Cup, but that did not happen.
“This is her first-up run, and she’s pretty much using this as a trial, she will be out the back and hopefully closing off.
“They will be much too sharp at that trip for her.
“If she comes through it OK, we’ll go to the John Letts Cup (on November 3), which will be more like her first proper run of the campaign.
“I would have liked a 1400-metre race to kick her off, but there are none available with her rating.”
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