Cranbourne trainer Robbie Laing will aim Golconda towards the Group 1 $1m Sportingbet Blue Diamond Stakes (1200m) at Caulfield in the Autumn following the filly’s impressive win at Caulfield last Saturday.
Golconda will be set for the 2014 Blue Diamond Stakes at Caulfield. Photo by Race Horse Photos Australia.
Golconda’s three lengths win in the Listed $120,000 Desiree Gill Tribute Stakes (1000m) placed Laing in the favourable situation of choosing between a Blue Diamond campaign or head to Queensland for the $2m Magic Millions 2yo Classic at the Gold Coast in January.
“It’s probably more prestigious to be here running in Blue Diamonds, so that’s the thing we’re going to have to weigh up,” Laing said after Golconda won on Saturday.
“Do we go to Queensland, where it may be 40 degrees Celsius and she might melt, or do we give her a little breather and go Blue Diamond and Bloodhorse Breeders (Stakes)?”
The Snitzel filly was sent straight to the spelling paddock leaving Laing to come up with his Blue Diamond Stakes plan that will begin with a run in the Group 3 $150,000 Sportingbet Blue Diamond Prelude (Fillies) (1100m) at Caulfield on February 8 next year.
“She ran the fastest last 200 metres of any horse at the meeting, and her last 600 metres was quicker than Lankan Rupee (winner of the Open Sprint),” Laing told Racing Network.
“I think there’s a lot of upside to her, I really do, and we’ll give her a chance to prove it now.”
Leading Melbourne jockey Glen Boss was very impressed with the performance of Golconda after he guided her to an impressive victory at Caulfield and is looking forward to her measuring up in the Autumn.
“She went to the line really well in what will probably be a very strong form race going forward,” Boss said.
“She’s a nice filly going forward herself.”
Laing’s unearthing of another potential Autumn star topped off a great Melbourne Spring Carnival for the popular trainer after he collected one of the major prizes of the Spring with his three year Polanski winning the Group 1 $1.5m AAMI Victoria Derby (2500m) at Flemington on November 2.
Laing has ambitious plans for Polanski and after an Autumn campaign that will climax with a run in the Group 1 $2m Australian Derby (2400m) at Randwick on April 12 will set a path leading towards the Group 1 $6m Emirates Melbourne Cup (3200m) at Flemington in November.
