Photo: Kenton Wright (Race Images).
Blue Sky At Night collected a couple of Cups last season and trainer Shelley Hale is hoping she can add to her haul when she heads to Matamata on Saturday to contest the Listed Team Wealleans Matamata Cup (1600m).
The eight-year-old daughter of Shamexpress was victorious in the Group 3 Waikato Cup (2400m) at Te Rapa in December before winning the Group 3 Avondale Cup (2400m) at Ellerslie in February, and Hale is pleased with the way she is coming up this time in.
“She had a great season last year, so it is good to have her back and ready to go again,” Hale said.
Blue Sky At Night had her first public hit-out of the season when comfortably taking out her 1300m trial at Cambridge on Tuesday, giving Hale plenty of confidence heading into the mile first-up this weekend.
“It was a lovely trial,” Hale said. “She was just out there for a pipe-opener and she seemed to do it very comfortably and happily.
“She is working up really nicely. She got out in the birdcage today, pricked the ears and still looks like she loves being out there, so that is the main thing.”
Blue Sky At Night holds a nomination for next month’s Group 1 Livamol Classic (2040m) at Ellerslie, and Hale said her first-up performance will dictate whether she continues towards that goal or they change tack towards further Cups targets.
“She is a natural stayer, so we will just leave her in there at the moment,” Hale said.
“She is going to run on Saturday in the Matamata Cup and we will just see how she measures up there and how she comes through it.
“In past years, the Livamol has sometimes dropped off a little but I don’t think it is going to this year. There will be plenty of other options, she can switch back and get ready for the Counties (Gr.3, 2100m) and Waikato Cups.”
Hale is looking forward to her stable star resuming this weekend and said the mile first-up poses no concerns.
“She had about six weeks off and she is pretty easy to get fit, so I don’t think the mile first-up will prove any challenges,” she said. “Being fresh she will have a bit of ping in her legs.”
Aussie betting sites are likely to release early markets for the Matamata Cup on Wednesday, with Blue Sky at Night expected to be among the favourites.