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Peter and Belinda Blanch have opted to stay close to home with talented sprinter Validated who is searching for his first win in 2024 at Morphettville on Saturday.
Validated has six wins and four placings from his 17 starts, his last win coming in the Gytrash Final back in November and Peter Blanch said the option of staying at home appeared the right one in preference to another interstate mission.
"We had him in the Golden Topaz at Swan Hill, but when we had a good look at the two races, we thought it was a better option to stay here in Adelaide and go over the road,'' Blanch said.
The Morphettville horseman said it was a perfect opportunity for Validated to benefit from dropping back in class.
He was held-up in the home straight when beaten 1.9 lengths behind Extremely Lucky in the Group 3 Hawkes Stakes at Morphettville first-up from a spell before he failed to handle the soft conditions and Flemington straight last time out.
"It's really about trying to get this campaign back on track, he's been running out of his grade in some really good races,'' Blanch said.
"He didn't handle the straight track at Flemington last time, they got half an inch of rain that day and that ruined his chances, plus Dom (Tourneur) said all he wanted to do was get down to the inside rail which didn't help.
"And he finished on the heels of some handy horses at his start before in Adelaide without a lot of luck late,'' he said.
Blanch said Validated went into Saturday's race in great order and would appreciate the drop to a Benchmark 78 race with apprentice Rochelle Milnes riding for the first time and taking three kilograms off.
"His work has been good all the way through,'' Blanch added.
"I really would like to get him over further at some point, his 1400m run at Flemington was good when we tried him over a little bit further and I reckon there is a mile race in him in time, he relaxes so well in his races,'' he said.
The stable will also saddle up Foxy Femme who has drawn the inside and has never been out of the placings in four starts on the Morphettville Parks circuit.
"She's so consistent, you just know what you're going to get with her,'' Blanch added.
"She loves being a racehorse and if she can have a bit of luck, which she needs with her racing pattern, she should be right there again.
"Last time from a similar gate on the Parks she was good enough to win so hopefully that can happen again on Saturday,'' he said.