Trainer Paul Snowden has revealed that the Group 1 Myer Classic (1600m) at Flemington on Victoria Derby Day could be the major 2014 Spring Racing Carnival target for Gypsy Diamond.
Gypsy Diamond impressed co-trained Paul Snowden with her effort in a barrier trial at Royal Randwick this morning. Photo by: Steve Hart
Gypsy Diamond joined the stable of Team Snowden at the end of her successful 2014 Sydney Autumn Racing Carnival campaign, after previously being prepared by John O’Shea and made her first public appearance for her new stable in a barrier trial at Royal Randwick this morning.
The Not A Single Doubt mare contested the third barrier trial of the day over 850 metres and was given a very quiet trial behind Sarajevo and Role Model, but Snowden told Racing Ahead that he was happy with the performance of four-year-old and is looking forward to seeing what she can produce during the 2014 Spring Racing Carnival.
“She is a lovely filly,” Snowden said.
“She went on to win some really nice races during the Randwick Carnival last preparation and she has come back in good order.
“She has plenty of bulk on her now and she only had a soft trial this morning, but we are all very excited about her.”
Team Snowden are yet to formulate a 2014 Spring Racing Carnival path for Gypsy Diamond, but revealed that the Group 1 placegetter would likely started her campaign in Sydney before heading to Melbourne for a tilt at the Myer Classic on November 1.
“She will probably have one or two runs in Sydney before she ends up down there in October,’ Snowden said.
“If we can down there maybe a Myer or something along the way, but there is a lot of water under the bridge just yet.”
Gypsy Diamond made her racing debut with a victory at Kembla Grange in April last year and progressed all the way to Group 1 level during the 2013 Spring Racing Carnival.
She failed to fire when an extreme outsider in the Group 1 Thousand Guineas (1600m) at Caulfield on October 16 before scoring her maiden win at Group 1 level in the Group 2 Jeep Don’t Hold Back Classic (1600m) at Moonee Valley on October 25.
Gypsy Diamond was far from disgraced in both the Group 2 Wakeful Stakes (2000m) and Group 1 Crown Oaks (2500m) and was sent to the spelling paddock before returning to the races with a second place finish in the Group 2 Lighter Fingers Stakes (1200m) at Royal Randwick on February 22.
The four-year-old performed well in both the Group 2 Surround Stakes (1400m) at Warwick Farm on March 8 and the Group 1 Coolmore Classic (1500m) at Rosehill Gardens on March 22 before returning to winning form in the Group 3 Carbine Club Stakes (1600m) at Royal Randwick and finished her campaign with a close second behind Diamond Drille in the Group 1 Queen Of The Turf Stakes (1600m) at the same venue a week later.
Gypsy Diamond is currently available at odds of $34 in the 2014 Cox Plate betting market at Ladbrokes Australia and is at 2014 Caulfield Cup odds of $41.
