Stilton Blue may have missed out on a crack at one sought-after final but there’s more big targets in the sights of trainer Phil Goodsell.
The impressive sprinter (picture) is taking a hard-earned break from competition after an unsuccessful journey to Victoria for the Group 1 Hudson Pacific Maturity Classic.
The race, which was Stilton Blue’s first trip south, came at the end of a busy campaign which saw him narrowly miss out on the Group 3 Sportingbet Gold Cup at Bulli and the Group 1 Peter Mosman Classic.
Goodsell said Stilton Blue would likely take a break now ahead of a probable aim at the Group 1 Sportingbet Megastar (520m) heats at Dapto in September.
“We might see if he can qualify for the Megastar,” Goodsell said.
“He likes the Dapto track and it’s not bad for us, being so close to home.
“If he can get in there then we’d like to have a go at that one.”
Stilton Blue would certainly be one to look out in the Megastar after compiling an excellent record so far.
He has twelve wins and ten other placings from 28 starts, including finishing runner-up in May's Gold Cup.
Goodsell’s charge also came through two races to earn a spot in last month’s Peter Mosman final at Wentworth Park before finishing a respectable fourth.
He was a short price $3.70 for his Maturity Classic heat earlier this month at The Meadows but could only finish sixth after an early collision hampered his chances.
“I don’t think he disappointed himself,” Goodsell said.
“I think he was within three lengths of the runner-up so it wasn’t a bad run in the circumstances.”
Nowra-based Goodsell said his charge will skip the forthcoming heats of the AGRA Nationals, with September’s Megastar now the prime goal.
“I can’t see him racing for six weeks now,” Goodsell said. “It’s been a big campaign for him.
“I don’t think we’ll worry about the Nationals.
“I think we’ll just give him some free gallops in the paddock and a couple of trials and see how he goes from there.”
The heats of the Megastar are on Friday, September 5, with the $75,000-to-the-winner final a week later.
