Melbourne Cup master Bart Cummings might have got along well with developing stayer Verifier.
Ballarat trainer Nigel Blackiston, who once worked for the great man as his Melbourne stable foreman, has adopted an old school approach with the New Zealand-bred three-year-old.
That approach finally reaped a dividend in the RCH Staff Appreciation Plate (2000m), a heat of the Mahogany Challenge for three-year-old stayers.
Verifier took 11 starts to break his maiden with a determined win over the Patrick Payne-trained longshot Midnight Lady but jockey Robbie Downey was suspended and fined for overuse of the whip on the winner.
Blackiston said he’d always kept faith in the son of Tivaci despite a few frustrating times early in the piece.
Verifier wins a close one!@DowneyRobbie gets his first ever win at Flemington ???? @NigelBlackistonpic.twitter.com/1izvYWnFxv
— 7HorseRacing ???? (@7horseracing) June 3, 2023
“People consider it a bit frustrating because he wasn’t getting the job done but he’s just one of those typical old-fashioned stayers that Bart used to have,” Blackiston said.
“You’ve got to make them by just being patient with them.
Blackiston said he had enough belief in Verifier to run him at Group 1 level had things gone his way earlier in the campaign.
“I was hoping to go to the South Australian Derby with him,” Blackiston said.
“He was unlucky in a maiden at Seymour, which he should have won, and it cost him getting into the Derby.
“I’ve been a believer in him because he’s such a stunning horse and he’s just starting to mature at home.
“He’s starting to want to please you more. Before, it was all too hard when you put him under a bit of pressure.”
Trainer Nigel Blackiston has taken a leaf out of the book of Bart Cummings in preparing Verifier. Picture: Getty Images
Verifier ($5.50) came from a long way back in his breakthrough win.
Blackiston said giving Verifier a chance to settle in his races and trackwork was the key to getting the best out of the talented staying prospect.
“You’ve got to let him find his feet. If you hassle him, he gets his head up and doesn’t like it,” Blackiston said.
Blackiston said he would keep Verifier fresh for the Mahogany Challenge Final at Flemington on July 1.
“He’s been up a little while now but if I can keep him fresh, he can go straight to the final,” Blackiston said.
“We’ll just try to keep him ticking over.”