Emerging trainer Dominic Sutton dares to dream of Melbourne Spring Carnival with Detroit City

Emerging trainer Dominic Sutton’s spring ambitions for Detroit City will become clearer after Saturday at Flemington.

Gilbert Gardiner

@gilbertgardiner

less than 2 min read

August 2, 2024 - 2:04PM

Horse Racing

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Emerging trainer Dominic Sutton’s spring ambitions for Detroit City will become clearer after Saturday at Flemington.

Detroit City, a $2.80 favourite with TAB in the Three-Year-Old Benchmark 70 (1410m), must overcome the widest of eight barriers.

“He’s got a good chance but we got hit with an awful barrier, so that’s a question where we’re going to land from barrier,” Sutton said.

“He’s naturally a go forward horse but we think he’s going to get over further in the future, we’re going to have to see how we ride him … forward or back, we have to make that call when he breaks out of the gates.”

Sutton has Detroit City, a $200,000 purchase, slated as a potential Victoria Derby candidate.

However, a win or good performance on Saturday at 1400m could put the Caulfield Guineas on the radar.

Detroit City bolts in on debut under Jake Duffy for Dominic Sutton ðŸ’ª pic.twitter.com/ezxHN2Ww2L
— Racing.com (@Racing) July 14, 2024

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“While you’re three you got to have a go at that style of race and see where you fit against some of the better three-year-olds … we won’t get too far ahead of ourselves,” Sutton said.

“We think we got a really progressive, nice horse … we’ll figure out where he fits in after Saturday and make more of a plan from there.”

Detroit City won by four lengths on debut at Wodonga last month and cashed in on lucrative bonuses for Victorian-bred horses.

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Owned outright by Sutton’s UK-based mother Claire, Detroit City banked $38,900 for the win and a $30,000 voucher to go towards the purchase of another Victorian-bred yearling or weanling.

“She’s the fortunate owner,” Sutton said.

“We couldn’t move him, trying to sell shares, so my mum kept hold of him, it’s been good so far.”

The race on Saturday at Flemington is worth $82,500 to the winner and another $30,000 in bonuses should an eligible Victorian-bred salute.

Originally published as Emerging trainer Dominic Sutton dares to dream of Melbourne Spring Carnival with Detroit City