The Gai Waterhouse trained filly Nayeli has thrown herself in the mix for the Group 1 $1m Sportingbet Blue Diamond Stakes (1200m) at Caulfield on February 22 after recording another impressive win at Caulfield on Saturday.
Nayeli runs into Blue Diamond Stakes contention with Caulfield win. Photo by Race Horse Photos Australia.
Nayeli made it two wins from two starts with a two and a quarter lengths wins in the Group 3 $135,000 Mal Seccull Chairman’s Stakes (1100m) which followed her two lengths win over 1000m on the Kensington track at Randwick on January 8.
Bookmakers reacted quickly to the Caulfield win and shortened Nayeli up to $8 third favourite for the Blue Diamond behind the Gerald Ryan trained Rubick ($3.10) and Darley’s slick filly Earthquake ($4.50).
Waterhouse agreed with the bookmakers and said that the filly should definitely be one of the top Blue Diamond Stakes picks after her Caulfield win.
“She deserves to be one of the favourites for the Blue Diamond and the fillies get two kilos from the colts,” Waterhouse said.
“It was her first look at Caulfield and she wobbled a bit around the turn but once she balanced up she attacked the line.”
Ryan admits that Nayeli was very impressive and wouldn’t be surprised if the More Than Ready filly does challenge his colt for the top spot on the bookie’s board.
“Nayeli was pretty good on Saturday, and she’s now done it twice,” Ryan told The Daily Telegraph.
“Nayeli was strong, she sat on the speed and then quickened.”
Rubick also looked top quality with a two and three quarter lengths win over 1000m at Randwick on January 25 and Ryan is preparing the colt to travel to Melbourne early this week.
“My horse will work tomorrow and head down tomorrow night,” Ryan said yesterday.
“Whenever my horses have travelled to Melbourne or Brisbane, they’ve always left the Monday night, or Tuesday night at the latest. It’s what works for me.”
Melbourne jockey Vlad Duric took over from Tommy Berry on Nayeli at Caulfield and was full of praise for the filly after an outstanding Melbourne debut.
“She ticks every box. She’s pretty good,” Duric said.
“When she went to the front she really went away from them. She’s really in the Blue Diamond mix for sure.”
Rubick will have his first look at Caulfield this Saturday in the Group 3 $150,000 Sportingbet Blue Diamond Prelude (C&G) (1100m) while Earthquake will go around in the fillies’ version.
