Summer Passage to be saved for sprint

New Zealand Group One winner Summer Passage will have to wait for his next chance to claim an Australian Group One win with connections pulling the pin on the $2 million Caulfield Guineas because of his outside barrier.

Co-trainer Lance O’Sullivan said instead of running on Saturday Summer Passage would go to the Group Three Blue Sapphire on Wednesday.

“It’s just too hard from out there in a race like that,” O’Sullivan told NZ Racing Desk.

“I spoke with his owner and he’s obviously disappointed, but understood how tough it would be so we’re going back to our original plan.”

Raced by Hong Kong-based Eugene Chuang under his Hermitage Thoroughbreds banner, Summer Passage will be prepared for the Coolmore Stud Stakes (1200m) on November 4 after the Blue Sapphire.

“He’s got a good record over the shorter distances so we don’t think it’s a problem and Hugh Bowman will be riding him in the Blue Sapphire,” O’Sullivan said.

Summer Passage won last season’s Group One Sistema Stakes (1200m) at home and was runner-up in the ATC Sires’ Produce Stakes (1400m) at Randwick.