The late nomination of Dissident for the Group 1 $1m Patinack Farm Blue Diamond Stakes (1200m) at Caulfield on Saturday will give trainer Peter Moody a possible four starters in the Melbourne Festival Of Racingtwo year old feature.
Dissident is a late entry to run in the Blue Diamond on Saturday. Photo by Race Horse Photos Australia.
Moody will also saddle up Exceed And Excel colt Thermal Current and Sebring filly Kona Breeze while his other filly Quest For Peace will be a final acceptor tomorrow but is borderline of gaining a start with only $12,150 in the bank.
Dissisdent has joined three other Blue Diamond late entries and as expected Adelaide trainer Daniel Clarken paid the $55,000 fee for Miracles Of Life and Darley entered the undefeated Metastasio and Montsegur to join stablemate Guelph in the field.
Dissident was a surprise first up winner at Caulfield in the Listed $120,000 Patinack Farm Blue Diamond Preview (C&G) (1000m) on January 26, relegating stablemate Thermal Current to third then ran into third spot behind Kuroshio in the Group 3 $150,000 Patinack Farm Blue Diamond Prelude (C&G) (1100m) at Caulfield two weeks later.
The Sebring colt ran around in the straight at both starts and Moody will add blinkers on Saturday to help his racing manners.
“He’s a late entry for the race. We’re hoping blinkers might do the trick,” Moody said.
Thermal Current hasn’t raced since a very unlucky third in the Blue Diamond Preview when he was held up very badly in the straight and has spent some time on the water walker freshening up.
Peter Snowden will have three fillies lining up against the colts on Saturday with the late inclusion of Metastasio and Montsegur who will be joining new favourite Guelph.
“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 number one rider Kerrin McEvoy has been aboard all three fillies but will wait until after the barrier draw tomorrow before deciding which one he will ride.
While Adelaide apprentice Lauren Stojakovic has been kept on Miracles Of Life after riding the Not A Single Doubt filly to all her three wins, including her last runaway victory in the Listed $120,000 Patinack Farm Blue Diamond Preview for Fillies (1000m) at Caulfield on January 26.
Guleph overtook unbeaten Adelaide filly Miracles Of Life as the $2.80 favourite after winning the Group 3 $150,000 Patinack Farm Blue Diamond Prelude (Fillies) (1100m) at Caulfield on February 9.
Miracles Of Life is now the second pick at $3 with Metastasio at $6.50, Thermal Current at $8.50 and Dissident at $18 while Montsegur is a $21 chance.
