Trainer Tony McEvoy has confirmed that talented filly Concealer will return to the races in the 2016 Blue Diamond Fillies Prelude at Caulfield on February 13.
Concealer was very impressive when she made her racing debut in the 2016 Emirates Airline Plate at Flemington on Melbourne Cup Day. Photo by: Ultimate Racing Photos
Concealer made her first public appearance when she finished second behind Cayman Dayze in a barrier trial over 1000 metres at Gawler on October 9 and she produced another smart trial effort over 900 metres at Murray Bridge on October 23.
There was very little betting interest for Concealer in the lead-up to her racing debut in the Group 3 Emirates Airline Plate (1000m) at Flemington on November 3, but she ran on strongly from midfield to upstage the well-backed Prompt Response and Missrock and stamp herself as a filly to follow.
Concealer was sent to the spelling paddock following her impressive victory on Melbourne Cup Day, but she is now ready for a return to racing and will contest the Group 2 Blue Diamond Fillies Prelude (1100m) at Caulfield on February 13 before she makes her Group 1 debut in the Ladbrokes Blue Diamond Stakes (1200m) at the same venue a fortnight later.
“We liked her coming in,” McEvoy told Racing Ahead.
“Her trials were good and her work was extremely good at home.
“She is in Melbourne and she is going very well.
“Physically she has definitely improved and she has more cover on her now.
“Thankfully, she hasn’t grown much bigger because she didn’t need to.
“She is a big tank of a thing and a big stretchy filly.
“She has a great big expressive action and I am liking what I am seeing of her.
“She will run in the Prelude on the 13th and then the Blue Diamond second-up.”
McEvoy has had a number of runners in the Blue Diamond Stakes, but he is chasing his first win in the Group 1 event after previously finishing second with La Lagune in 2001 and missing the placings with Manhattan Blues (fourth behind Pride Of Dubai in 2015), Stoker (seventh behind Pride Of Dubai in 2015), Piacenza (11th behind Earthquake in 2014), Jimando (fourth behind Samaready in 2012), Presumed Innocent (tenth behind Bel Esprit in 2002), Langoustine (ninth behind True Jewels in 2001) and Real Jester (fourth behind Redoute’s Choice in 1999).
Concealer is currently available at 2016 Blue Diamond Stakes odds of $17 with Ladbrokes, while Extreme Choice ($6) is a narrow favourite from Calliope ($8) and Defcon ($9).
