Owner David Moodie could pay the $55,000 late entry fee to get Sword Of Light into the 2016 Blue Diamond Stakes field after she recorded an impressive victory in the 2016 Blue Diamond Fillies Preview at Caulfield yesterday.
Sword Of Light was too good for her rivals in the Blue Diamond Fillies Preview. Photo by: Ultimate Racing Photos
Sword Of Light was settled in the first half of the Blue Diamond Fillies Preview field by jockey Damian Lane in the early stages of the race and she pulled her way into the first four before she finished over the top of the rivals to record a strong win from Emphatically and Dream First.
The New Approach filly has now recorded two race wins from as many starts, but co-trainer Matthew Ellerton believes that she still has plenty of improvement left in front of her as she potentially builds towards the Group 1 Ladbrokes Blue Diamond Stakes (1200m) at Caulfield on February 27.
“She’s a cantankerous little thing, her mother [Joyeuse] was much the same,” Ellerton said.
“She’s got her quirks like we saw on New Year’s Day.
“I think she gave them a few anxious moments in the gates, but she’s got an engine.
“I think it’ll be raceday experience.
“She was a helluva lot better today than Flemington in her behaviour.”
Lane was aboard Sword Of Light when she played up in the barriers and was scratched before the New Year Plate (1000m) and he had a similar scare when the two-year-old took a while to enter the gates in the lead-up to the Blue Diamond Fillies Preview.
Sword Of Light eventually took her place in the barriers and Lane was happy with everything that she did after that point.
“She’s a flighty filly full stop,” Lane said.
“When she gets fresh at trackwork, she jumps around.
“She was a little bit hesitant to load, but she’s a lot better in the barriers, which is our main concern.
“Hopefully, she keeps improving and learns to cool her head a little bit.
“She was beautiful during the run.”
Sword Of Light is currently available at 2016 Ladbrokes Blue Diamond Stakes odds of $15 with Ladbrokes, while Extreme Choice ($6) is a narrow favourite from Defcon ($8) and Calliope ($10).
Ellerton is chasing his first victory in the Blue Diamond Stakes since he took out the 1996 edition of the race with Paint, while the stable have not had a runner in the race since Formidable finished 11th behind Samaready in 2012.
