Lofty Strike under injury cloud ahead of Blue Diamond Stakes

With just two days until the Group 1 Blue Diamond Stakes (1200m) at Caulfield, one of the more fancied runners, Lofty Strike, has been found to be lame.

The Julius Sandhu-trained two-year-old is currently a +600 chance for the $1.5 million feature on Saturday, but he will have to pass a second veterinary examination on Friday morning if he is to take his place.

The unbeaten colt was brilliant when winning his most recent race in the Colts & Geldings edition of the Blue Diamond Prelude (1100m) on February 12, which saw him rocket into contention for this weekend’s feature race.

“Racing Victoria (RV) veterinarians have this morning commenced their pre-race veterinary inspections of all horses accepted to run in Saturday’s Group 1 Neds Blue Diamond Stakes at Caulfield,” a statement from Racing Victoria read.

“RV advises that the Julius Sandhu-trained Lofty Strike presented with lameness in the right front and will be re-inspected tomorrow to determine the colt’s suitability to race.”

Jamie Mott is set to ride Lofty Strike from barrier 13 as he chases his first Group 1 win in the saddle.

Also coming through a win in the Blue Diamond Prelude (Fillies) is the Peter & Paul Snowden-trained Revolutionary Miss.

The daughter of Russian Revolution has been well-supported in betting, firming from +700 into +500 with Bovada since markets went up.

Jamie Kah is set to ride the filly from barrier 11, while the current +400 race favourite, Jacquinot, will jump from barrier 10 under Damian Lane.

The Blue Diamond Stakes is one of three Group 1 races that will be run at Caulfield on Saturday, with the Futurity Stakes and Oakleigh Plate rounding out a brilliant day’s racing at The Heath.

Racing gets underway at Caulfield at 12:40pm AEDT with the running of the Group 3 Zeditave Stakes (1200m) for three-year-old colts and geldings.