Casquets a chance to back up in Blue Diamond

Trainer Mark Kavanagh will wait until Monday before making a decision on a Blue Diamondstart next week for Casquets after the filly took out the Listed $100,000 Talindert Stakes (1100m) at Flemington today.

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Casquets winning the Talindert Stakes at Flemington. Photo by Race Horse Photos Australia.

Casquets was having her second race start after running an honest race first up for third at Moonee Valley two weeks ago and Kavanagh expects the Fastnet Rock filly to keep on improving.

A start in next week’s Group 1 $1m Patinack Farm Blue Diamond Stakes (1200m) at Caulfield will depend on how Casquets pulls up over the weekend.

“We’ll see how she does over the weekend and work out if we send her to the paddock or whether we go forward,” Kavanagh said.

“There is certainly improvement in her. If she can improve as much going into next week as she did from Moonee Valley to here, she would certainly be a chance I think.”

“We left her pretty raw first up. We just let her naturally improve and this race should bring her on so we’ll wait and see.”

Kavanagh welcomed the return of jockey Stephen Baster who had to leave Singapore last month and has resumed riding back in Melbourne.

“We’ve always supported Stephen. He won Atlantic Jewel’s maiden. We’ve always supported him. He’s a great jockey and we use him. Of course Michael has first crack, but he’ll be around,” Kavanagh said.

Baster was able to pick up the ride on Casquets when Michael Rodd was unable to make the weight today and took full advantage of the opportunity with a well-timed run on the filly.

Baster had Casquets just behind the leading division and let her stride to the front and held off the strong finish of runner-up Annenberg to win by a long head.

“It’s great to be back with a winner at Flemington, great to be home,” Baster said.

“Coolmore and Kav have been two of my biggest supporters over the years so its just fitting to ride a winner for them first up.”

“Michael Rodd is his number one rider, but he supports me when he can and I really appreciate it.”

Baster will let Kavanagh make the final decision for the Blue Diamond but said Casquets felt like a tough little filly.

“She seems to be pretty tough filly to me,” Baster said.

About The Author

Mark Mazzaglia

Mark is a passionate journalist with a life-time involvement in the racing industry. He spent many years as an analyst and form expert at the Courier Mail and also has hands-on experience working with some of Queensland’s top trainers.