Racing.com | Blackiston keen on $4750 buy, Mr Scorefield

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racing.com8 Dec 2020 | Andrew Eddy | Racing.com

Nearly every racehorse owner is looking for a horse that can win back its purchase price at its first start, but for connections of Mr Scorefield, you can understand why they hold hopes of even higher achievements into the future.

A son of Squamosa, Mr Scorefield was initially purchased for $8000 as a weanling at the Great Southern Bloodstock sale but only made $4750 when sold-on the following year at the VOBIS Gold yearling sale.

After some encouraging jumpouts, he made his debut at The Valley late last month when he caught the eye late, running home strongly from near last to finish fourth, earning connections $6250.

For Ballarat-based trainer Nigel Blackiston, he’s hoping his debut is the start of a long and profitable career for a horse he genuinely likes and who is part-owned by long-time friend Amir Khan.

“He’s been a very, very pleasing addition to the stables from the day he stepped into them,” Blackiston enthused on Tuesday.

“From day one, he’s shown himself to be a spunky, cheeky little bugger. He’s not overly big but he carries himself with a big personality.”

Mr Scorefield is down to have his second start at Flemington on Saturday in the #Lovethehorse for juveniles over 1100 metres, where Blackiston expects another forward showing after his debut behind Paulele, when he flashed home from near last on the home turn to finish just behind the placegetters.

Blackiston said Mr Scorefield is a natural runner.

“He’s one of the most precocious ones I’ve had for many, many years as we don’t often have too many early going two-year-olds,” he said.

“He went to the breaker, got gelded and he hasn’t stopped. He’s gone through the whole prep and he’s loving life.

“He’s got nice balance about him and there’s a lot of upside with more growth and maturity to come.”

Blackiston also intends running his capable mare Diaquin at Flemington on Saturday in the Living Legends Handicap over 1720m.

“She’s coming along super,” he enthused. “She likes the ground a little softer, but we put the concussion plates on last start and she ran terrific.

“She’s a lovely mare, who’s come back in great order.”