Limestone showed her credentials as an early season two year old with a narrow win at Caulfield on Thursday but connections will need to pay a $55,000 last entry fee if she is to run in the Group 1 $1.5m Ladbrokes Blue Diamond Stakes (1200m) at Caulfield on February 25.
Limestone, above, wins the Blue Diamond Preview for the fillies but needs a late entry fee to run in the Blue Diamond Stakes at Caulfield. Photo by Ultimate Racing Photos.
The Darren Weir trained Limestone was having her third race start after a third at Moonee Valley over 1000m on December 9 and a win down the Flemington straight over 1000m on January 1 and was sent out as the $2.70 favourite for the Group 3 $150,000 Ladbrokes Blue Diamond Preview (Fillies) (1000m).
Winning jockey Damian Lane settle the Helmet filly in the second half of the field and was able to weave a passage through the pack to gain a nose victory over the $2.80 second favourite Tulip.
Weir said that he has a very high opinion of Limestone and would have no hesitation in setting her for the Blue Diamond Stakes if owner David Moodie decides to pay the late entry fee.
“I’ve never had a two-year-old like this before,” Weir said.
“We’ve been focussing on them a little bit of late – probably since the sales last year.”
“She’s a terrific two-year-old to train and if she pulls up well, we can lay out a plan to go to the Diamond if David wants to.”
Weir was bit concerned that Limestone raced with head on the side in the straight and that she had never shown that tendency before.
“She had her head on the side down the straight and she’s never done that at home so I’m hoping she’s fine when she pulls up,” Weir said.
Even though Limestone is not officially in the Blue Diamond Stakes nominations, she has been included in the betting for the Group 1 for the two year olds with Ladbrokes.com.au as the $9 second favourite behind the Lindsay Park trained Catchy at $8.
Early market order for the Blue Diamond Stakes at Ladbrokes.com.au: $8 Catchy, $9 Limestone, $13 Jukebox, Pariah, Property, $15 Azazel, Chateau Griffo, Jorda, $17 Formality, Menari, Tulip, Aspect, Roomooz, $26 Overshare, Eden Roc, Eshtiraak, Sheer Madness, Spoils, Veranillo, $34 or better the rest.
