In-form filly Savatiano faces her stiffest test to date when she makes her Stakes debut in Saturday’s G2 Dane Ripper Stakes at Doomben.
But trainer James Cummings believes she has the talent to acquit herself well against opposition that includes older and more experienced rivals.
The 30-year-old says Savatiano has what it takes to develop into a top tier filly, but he is also confident she can be competitive now.
“Savatiano takes a giant leap up in grade in the Dane Ripper,” Cummings said.
“She meets a group of very strong mares and she is out of the handicaps, but you have to be impressed with the form she’s in.
“If she’s got it within her, then she’s fit enough and in the right sort of shape to be getting there now.”
Savatiano is in rare form having won her only two starts this time in, the latest by an ever-increasing five lengths over 1200m at Randwick last month.
Savatiano is one of two Godolphin three-year-old fillies looking to make their mark at the meeting with Banish to take on the males in the G2 Queensland Guineas.
Banish (Glyn Schofield) finished fifth last time out in the G2 Doomben Roses and has a G2 win in Melbourne to her credit over the 1600m of Saturday’s race.
“She’s forced to tackle some well-performed males, but the way she ran home over the 2000m tells us she’s nice and fit for the race. She just needs to lift a few lengths,” Cummings said.
Godolphin’s Doomben representation is completed by Nozomi (Jim Byrne) in the G2 Brisbane Cup.
The six-year-old comes to the race off some moderate form but trainer Anthony Freedman is pleased with the horse’s preparation in Brisbane and believes he can run a forward race.
“He’s been a very good horse to the stable over several seasons and, with the right run, he’s capable of getting into the finish,” he said.
