Dominic Sutton is eager to see how Feroce performs in the Group 3 Caulfield Guineas Prelude (1400m) on Saturday, as the race will help shape the gelding’s spring campaign.
Feroce, a son of Super Seth, gave Sutton his first win as a trainer with a victory at Pakenham in March, followed by another success over 1200 metres at Caulfield.
His recent form includes a fourth-place finish in the Listed Anzac Day Stakes (1400m) and a seventh in the Group 3 McNeil Stakes (1200m).
“I’ve always felt that he’s a horse that will get out over further than 1400 metres,” Sutton said.
“We’ve just had to teach him to harness his speed a little bit early as he can be an aggressive type of horse early when he wants to be, but I think the 1400 metres will suit him down to the ground.”
Sutton added that Feroce would need to put in a strong showing in the Prelude to justify a shot at the Guineas, though he’s mindful of not overtaxing the developing gelding.
“He’d need to run a pretty bold race in the Prelude to warrant going on to the Guineas, and the mile will probably see him out at this stage. I don’t want to give him a too taxing spring as he’s still developing.”
Looking ahead, Sutton mentioned several options beyond the Guineas.
“There is the Carbine Club Stakes during Cup week on the radar as a run after if we do go to the Guineas, but we’ve still got to take the right steps.
“If we decide to bypass the Guineas, there’s lots of races around the fringes that we could look at.
“There’s even the Sandown Guineas later in the spring. It’s pretty much an open book at this stage.”
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