A spring of learning with Climbing Star is expected to come to fruition for trainer Phillip Stokes at Cranbourne.
After a couple of luckless runs and then finding the trip a shade far at her last start, Stokes believes the Rosemount Stud Pendant (1400m) is made to order for Climbing Star on Saturday.
Climbing Star returns to Cranbourne for the first time since scoring a maiden debut win and Stokes believes the mare has a Black Type win in her, despite that solitary win in 11 starts.
But Stokes also pointed out Climbing Star had been unlucky on a number of occasions during her career.
One of those was over Saturday’s trip in Group 2 grade when she was badly held-up for a run at Flemington in early October.
And Stokes finally conceded Climbing Star does not run 1600m and will be restricting the daughter of Zoustar to shorter trips in the future.
“She was very unlucky in a couple of runs, especially one, three runs ago, then she ran into Buffalo River and ran second behind a good horse,” Stokes said.
“Then last time she didn’t run the mile out, so once and for all we’ve got that sorted, so I’m thinking back to 1400 (metres), we’ve kept her nice and sharp, that she should run very well.
“It looks a nice race for her, I think.”
Stokes said he finally relented on Climbing Star failing to run 1600m after she finished fifth in the Inglis Bracelet (1600m) at Flemington on November 9.
He said after she showed promise at the trip as a three-year-old and following good 1400m efforts that she would handle a mile without concern.
“I’m happy with her and I think now we’ve got a good handle on her for next prep, and she should be winning a Black Type race as we now know her trip,” Stokes said.
“With blinkers on and ridden with cover, that suits her best.
“We tried here at 1600 metres as three-year-old, but that was against her own age and sex, and you think they can run it, but against older mares she didn’t quite get it, but I do think she’s got a good win in her.”