‘Immature’ Blake expected to show his best in time

Trainer Leroy O’Brien is not afraid to declare Blake Bolac potentially the best horse trained out of the family stables, but believes it will be some time before we see all of what the exciting two-year-old has to offer.

O’Brien and his father Danny have prepared a number of handy standardbreds over the years, including Im Sir Blake and Imprincessgemma who won many races for the team before being sold to the United States.

Group 3-winning trotters Down Under Earl and Windinyasoup are among others to have made a name for themselves.

But the lightly-raced son of Sunshine Beach shapes as the pick of the bunch, with the bay gelding showing serious promise in his first season at the races.

In all, he’s won three of five career starts and tackles Friday night’s Benstud Standardbreds Youthful Stakes for the two-year-old colts and geldings following back-to-back victories at Bendigo and Mildura.

“Dad’s got a massive opinion of him – he thinks he’s probably the best we’ve had,” O’Brien, who trains from Armstrong, said.

“We think he’s better than Im Sir Blake and Imprincessgemma. He’s pretty versatile, he’s tough and he’s fast, but we probably won’t see the best of him for another two years or 12 months. He’s pretty immature in the head. He’s just all raw ability.

“This bloke is probably the best chance we’ve got to try and win a nice race.”

When that “nice race” is remains to be seen, but the O’Briens are targeting the upcoming Vicbred Super Series with the impressive youngster.

But first comes Friday night’s Youthful Stakes, with Jason Lee booked to partner Blake Bolac from gate four in the small field of six.

“We are confident going in,” Leroy, 30, said.

“We think he’s a chance of running a nice race in the Vicbred… so he probably needs to be winning or running a second or a third – being pretty close to them – to be even thinking about having an opportunity in the Vicbred.

“His whole preparation has sort of revolved around that, but he’s still screwing down. Tomorrow night will put him a bit closer to being right.”

O’Brien’s sister Kirsty Peacock and her husband Trevor purchased the relatively unknown Satimer Sunset, a mare who was in foal at the time, in an online sale and named the resulting newborn Blake Bolac.

The Peacocks now race the horse under their breeding operation name, Back Bolac Standardbreds.

The Youthful Stakes for the two-year-old boys will be joined by a separate edition for the fillies on Friday night’s Melton card.

The meeting will get full wall-to-tall TrotsVision coverage as hosts Ryan Phelan and Steve Cleave join caller Dan Mielicki to bring you all the action.

The first race kicks-off from 6.33pm, with the last of eight at 10.03pm.