Suavito stormed home in the final stages to steal the 2014 Matriarch Stakes on the line at Flemington (Saturday) afternoon.
Gai Waterhouse-trained Amanpour fought off Solicit to take a clear lead at the 300 metre mark and she looked as though she was going to hold on to record a tough win before Girl In Flight loomed as the winner on her outside.
Damien Oliver on Suavito had tracked Girl In Flight into the race and waited until as late as possible to expose the Thorn Park mare before she stormed down the outside of the field to hit the front in the shadows of the post.
The Matriarch Stakes win was Oliver’s sixth victory of the 2014 Melbourne Cup Carnival and he was delighted to get Suavito home after she blocked for a run at a key stage of the race.
“I thought that she was going to be something beat because I got a little bit held up in the straight,” Oliver said.
“She got clear and I really asked her for a big effort late and full credit to this mare, she is a little beauty, she tries her heart out and she managed to get there on the line for us.
“Nigel was tempted to run her in the Myer last Saturday, but fortunately he resisted the temptation and saved her for this race and it paid dividends.”
Nigel Blackiston played a key role in preparing a number of winnings at the Melbourne Cup Carnival during his time with legendary trainer Bart Cummings, including Melbourne Cup victories with Kingston Rule (1990), Let’s Elope (1991), Saintly (1996) and Rogan Josh (1999), but the Matriarch Stakes win was his first during the Melbourne Cup Carnival as a trainer in his own right.
Blackiston said that he was always confident that Suavito would run out a strong 2000 metres and he was delighted with the way that she savaged the line in the final stages of the Matriarch Stakes.
“She never has [run a bad race] and she is tough as raw boots and I am very happy,” Blackiston said.
“She always finds the line strong and it is a great result.
“The track was a little bit firm and I was a little bit concerned, but the way she finished it off – she just attacked the line beautifully.
“It is something that I have always aimed for at this time of year, it is our grand final, and to win for some great people and great friends is fantastic.”
horseracing.com.au
