The well fancied Property needs to win the Group 3 $200,000 Ladbrokes Blue Diamond Prelude (C&G) (1100m) at Caulfield on Saturday for connections to pay a late entry fee for the Ladbrokes Blue Diamond Stakes two weeks later.
Property, above, will have to win the Ladbrokes Blue Diamond Prelude for connections yo pay the late entry fee for the Ladbrokes Blue Diamond Stakes. Photo by Ultimate Racing Photos.
The Robert Smerdon trained Property created a huge impression with a one and three quarter lengths win in the Listed $150,000 Ladbrokes Blue Diamond Preview (1000m) for the colts and geldings at Caulfield on January 26 and was immediately included in the Ladbrokes.com.au betting as a $15 chance for the Ladbrokes Blue Diamond Stakes.
But Smerdon said that Property would have to win this weekend for connections to the pay the $55,000 late entry fee to include him in the final field for the Group 1 $1.5m Ladbrokes Blue Diamond Stakes (1200m) at Caulfield on February 25.
“I really think he would have to win. If you don’t win the prelude you are not going to win the final,” Smerdon told racing.com.
“So I think he would have to win and the late entry fee come out of that prizemoney.”
“That would be my view but it’s not my decision however I do think that if he didn’t win they wouldn’t be thinking of paying up for him.”
Craig Williams rode Property when he won at Caulfield last start and gets the ride again on the Starcraft gelding who has drawn nicely at barrier three in the fourteen horse field.
Property is solid in the betting at $5 for the Ladbrokes Blue Diamond Prelude with the Peter and Paul Snowden trained Pariah the only youngster ahead of him in the market order at $3.50.
Pariah was also impressive in winning on debut in the Group 3 $150,000 Canonbury Stakes (1100m) at Rosehill on January 28 and Team Snowden quickly identified the Redoute’s Choice as a likely Ladbrokes Blue Diamond Stakes candidate.
“Pariah has been a really nice horse from day one, he just has good ‘smarts’ about him,’’ Peter Snowden told The Sunday Telegraph.
“He has always been well above his year with everything he has done so far.
“This colt has good ability.”
Jockey Kerrin McEvoy will need plenty of luck on Pariah who has drawn awkwardly at barrier nine in the Ladbrokes Blue Diamond Prelude.
On the third line of betting at $5.50 is the Mick Price trained Cao Cao (barrier 8) who has continued to please the Caulfield mentor since his win in a 1000m 2yo Plate at Moonee Valley on November 26.
“He had a gallop this morning (Tuesday) with Oregon’s Day on the course proper,” Price told racing.com.
“Oregon’s Day finished in front of him but he gets a bit lazy at the gallop but his trial was good.”
“Mark Zahra rode him this morning ((Tuesday), Mark Zahra will ride him on Saturday. Mark suits the horse and I am sure he will go well.”
