2 hours ago
4
Craig Kerry
April 9, 2026 — 5:00pm
Flemington-based English trainer Dom Sutton has seen first hand what it takes to win major races in Sydney, and after coming agonisingly just two weeks ago, he is hoping to get the monkey off his back in group 1 style on Saturday in the Australian Oaks (2400m).
Sutton, who worked for premier Sydney trainer Chris Waller when he first came to Australia at age 19, has two chances in the $1 million Oaks at Randwick and believes there is little between them.
After Summer is ready for a second shot after finishing a controversial second to Belle Cheval in the group 1 Vinery Stud Stakes (2000m) at Rosehill on March 28.
Classic Gem is backing up from a fifth in last week’s group 3 Adrian Knox Stakes (2000m) at Randwick.
After Summer stormed home in the Vinery but was edged out in a photo-finish before jockey Billy Egan protested, alleging interference from Belle Cheval on the home turn and again at the 200m when she shifted out abruptly under Zac Lloyd.
Although unsuccessful, After Summer showed she was a genuine contender for the Oaks, where she was a $9.50 TAB hope from a gate three with Egan aboard again.
Sutton, a maiden group 1 winner a year ago with Feroce in the Australian Guineas at Flemington, has yet to taste victory in Sydney and said After Summer was peaking to give him a major breakthrough.
“We obviously went very close in the Vinery and we ran sixth in the Sydney Cup last year with Garachico, so we’ve been there or thereabouts, but it would be nice to get the monkey off the back, especially in a big one,” said Sutton, who is in his third season as a head trainer.
“After Summer has done really well since. This was always the main target, the whole prep was revolved around this race, so we wanted her be in it third-up and peaking, and I feel that that’s the case with her. She seems to have gone to another level.
“I thought the 2000m was going to be a bit short for her because she is an out-and-out stayer. I thought there might be a couple of horses who would be a bit sharp for her, but she was obviously very good and unlucky not to get the result.”
After Summer broke through over 1800m at her third start before thirds in the group 3 Ethereal (2000m) and group 1 VRC Oaks (2500m) to finish her spring.
“We always knew she was going to improve into her autumn campaign,” Sutton said.
“A lot of the feedback we were getting from the jockeys in the spring was that she almost wasn’t ready, and she was just going to get better and better.”
The daughter of The Autumn Sun and Al Jasrah was a $170,000 yearling buy for Sutton.
“We went to the sales looking to buy well-bred fillies and she was bought to be an Oaks horse, it’s what her pedigree suggests, a very stout pedigree, and by the right sire,” he said.
“Timing-wise, we were very lucky. It was just before The Autumn Sun really hit his straps as a stallion. If she was in the sale this year, she would probably be double that price.”
Classic Gem, from gate nine and with Damian Lane to ride, was $14 for the Oaks. Although winless in eight starts, the $170,000 Maurice-Lankan Gold filly performed well in the spring and was second in the group 3 Alexandra Stakes (1600m) first-up before last week’s Adrian Knox.
“There’s not much between them, and it showed in the spring,” Sutton said of his pair.
“They were always right next door to each other, pretty much the whole way along.
“Classic Gem has got a few quirks that can probably hold her back at times, but she’s coming along really nicely. Her run in the Adrian Knox was very good, considering she was caught three-wide the trip. No fault of Damian’s. She actually began a lot cleaner, but we just drew a sticky barrier and couldn’t get in.
“She got a little bit unbalanced going right-handed the first time around the bend, and she didn’t really pick up her action until she straightened up. I thought she hit the line very strongly and the trip won’t be an issue for her.
“First up, she missed the kick by two lengths then got beat three-quarters of a length.
“She’s been unlucky, drawing sticky barriers and being caught in awkward positions. If she can find herself in a decent spot and relaxing the first half, she’s going to be in the mix. I’ve put winkers on her, just to help her go the Sydney way and travel up between the six and the 400. She’s got a lot of talent.”
