Darley to make Blue Diamond all girls affair

Thoroughbred giants Darley are looking to make next week’s Group 1 $1m Patinack Farm Blue Diamond Stakes(1200m) at Caulfield an all-girls affair.

guelph

Guelph beating stablemate Montsegur in Blue Diamond Prelude. Photo by Race Horse Photos Australia.

Joint favourite Guelph is trainer Peter Snowden’s pick but the stable has indicated that they will also pay the $55,000 late entry fee for their other two fillies Montsegur and Metastasio.

Guelph joined reigning Blue Diamond favourite Miracles Of Life at the head of the market order at $3.20 after winning the filly’s version of the Group 3 $150,000 Patinack Farm Blue Diamond Prelude (1100m) at Caulfield.

Adelaide trained filly Miracles Of Life stayed home in her stable last Saturday but did create a huge impression two weeks earlier in winning the Listed $120,000 Patinack Farm Blue Diamond Preview for fillies (1000m) at Caulfield with apprentice Lauren Stojakovic in the saddle.

Street Cry filly Metastasio remained undefeated in scoring at Caulfield in the Listed $120,000 PFD Food Services Chairman’s Stakes (1100m) at Caulfield on February 2 and Montsegur showed that she is not far off the best with a game second to stablemate Guelph in the filly’s Prelude last Saturday.

Snowden has decided to send Kuroshio back to Sydney and miss the Blue Diamond even though the Exceed And Excel colt took the colts and geldings version of the Blue Diamond Prelude at Caulfield last Saturday.

“There is only two weeks to go so unless something comes out next week, I think the fillies might have a decided advantage on the colts,” Snowden said.

“The fillies seem to be a bit better than the colts from what I have seen.”

“I think right across the board it has been that way, I have noticed since I have been here anyway.”

Darley’s stable rider Kerrin McEvoy will have first pick of the fillies, but is likely to wait until after the barrier draw to make his final decision while leading jockey Glen Boss will be aboard one of the other Snowden runners with the third rider to be announced.

McEvoy has been aboard all three fillies but the choice will be between last Saturday’s winner Guelph and Metastasio who McEvoy has been on at both her wins.

Snowden confirmed that Guelph was his number one pick after the Exceed And Excel filly ran faster time than then the colts last Saturday but is happy to let McEvoy make his decision.

“We thought she would do that at her first start but she was slow into stride. Today she was right there and travelled comfortably,” Snowden said after the Caulfield win.

“She handled the corner okay but she switched into gear and she was right.”

The Blue Diamond market order is starting to take shape with Miracles Of Life and Guelph sharing the top spot at $3.20 with Peter Moody’s colt Thermal Current on the next line of betting at $6.50 ahead of Metastasio at $8 with stablemate Montsegur a $26 chance.

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.