Paul King sure knows a good thing when he sees it. Like a nice wine from Salitage Winery in Western Australia, a wine so exceptional he deemed it a worthy name for his new cheeky filly, out of another one of his good things, his mare Kid Gloves – a cheeky wine, a Sassy Salitage!
Sassy is half sister to pocket rocket Lady Horseowner, another name chosen lovingly for his wife.
Lady raced for the stable, winning the Group 3 Blue Diamond Preview at Caulfield with Nikita Beriman, she too raced tough, with all her heart and that same home corner chase seems to be in the blood.
Sassy gets through her work at home with purpose and intent, at times in the beginning quite eager. The team worked on her education and focused on developing her professional attitude, track rider – Daniel Malouf, putting everything into practice helping her settle without curbing that bold spark she finds in the home stretch… its all about balance.
Sassys’ win on debut at Pakenham with Damien Oliver showed her keen style. Getting held up at the 400m did not trouble her, Damien steered her into a gap finding a clear path, bursting through and hitting the line firmly to secure her maiden victory.
Greg found an upcoming suitable race for Sassy at The Valley, could she do it?
The field was littered with Group/Stakes winners and placegetters, the more experienced. What we, Paul and her astute owners did know was that by the time the race was run we would know where we stand with this little filly.
Greg: “You’ve gotta be in it to win it”.
Win it, she did, with all her sass and spunk she bounced out in text book perfection with Ben Allen on board, Allen pushing the button getting her through her gears and hitting the line with ease.
Greg was right, we certainly do know where we stand.
Sassy is being prepped to return to The Valley on the 7th September to run in the Listed Atlantic Jewel Stakes (1200m) and has been nominated for the Thousand Guineas.
Abby Boyle
Media Manager
Cadet Lodge