THE Group 1 Blue Diamond Stakes at Caulfield went exactly as bookmakers had planned and now both runners have come tumbling in to Golden Slipper contention.
The Mick Price-trained Extreme Choice was backed into $2.70 with CrownBet.com.au for the Blue Diamond and it ran accordingly, defeating stabemate Flying Artie by 1.75 lengths and both runners clearing out from the rest of the field.
Jockey Craig Newitt sat three and four wide on Extreme Choice before letting the colt down at the top of the straight. Meanwhile, Flying Artie was sent wide via a skirmish on the corner and showed great ability to run Extreme Choice to within two lengths.
“They're good colts aren't they,” Price said.
“I saw Flying Artie get speared off at the top of the straight and I thought, ‘Oh bugger, he's had no luck' but the other colt is very good.
“This was the day for Extreme Choice to stand up and he delivered.”
Extreme Choice has firmed into favouritism for the 2016 Golden Slipper, knocking Magic Millions winner Capitalist of the perch its held since winning in January.
The son of Not A Single Doubt is now $3.75 with Sportsbet for the 1200m feature at Rosehill on March 19, with Capitalist on the second line of betting at $4.40.
Flying Artie is listed as not nominated, but connections are expected to pay a late entry into the richest two-year-old race in the world. Price couldn't have been happier with its run in the Blue Diamond and he looks to have a strong pairing heading forwards.
“Luck in running was massive. Gates are gates and it happens all the time,” Price said.
“No excuses but for him [Flying Artie] to get speared off like that at the home turn and still run home is a really brave effort.
“I've got plenty of horse left in both of them, they haven't been bottomed out. I'll probably have to pay a late entry for Flying Artie to get into the Slipper but apart from Capitalist it looks an even year.”
Price has confirmed that Extreme Choice will press forward to the Slipper.
“He's off to the Slipper for sure,” Price confirmed.
“For him to hit the line [like] that it stamped him as a really, really good colt.”
What the jockeys said – top 5:
Extreme Choice (Craig Newitt) – “Outstanding. Never felt like he was going to lose. He dead-set cantered up to them. I knew the pink colours [Flying Artie] were coming but I was never going to lose.
Flying Artie (Damien Oliver) – “Excellent run. I was really pleased with the horse. He was still a bit fresh and being skittled on the turn didn't help his cause. It was still an excellent effort.”
Zamzam (Nicholas Hall) – “Terrific. She's a real professional filly. She'll come through it well and go on this prep.”
Power Trip (Jamie Mott) – “Fantastic. He had a nice run today but he took a while to wind up and his best work was late.”
Star Turn (Dwayne Dunn) – “I had a terrible run in transit. To his credit, he presented well but couldn't quite finish. He had a really bad run.”
2016 updated Golden Slipper market
For a full market visit Sportsbet.com.au*
Extreme Choice – $3.75
Capitalist – $4.40
Flying Artie (NN) – $8.00 at Sportsbet.com.au
Astern – $11
Honesty Prevails – $15
Weatherly – $15
Tessera – $21
Good Standing – $21
Yankee Rose – $21
Scarlet Rain – $26
Defcon – $26
Souchez – $26
Kiss And Make Up – $26
Calliope – $34
Star Turn – $34
In The Vanguard – $34
Telperion – $41
Mount Panorama – $41
Thyme For Roses – $41
Earth – $51
Zamzam – $51