BOOKMAKERS are tilting towards a possible match-race in this Saturday's Blue Diamond Stakes at Caulfield, but there are a host of chances ready to test the two favourites.
The Mick Price-trained Extreme Choice and Flying Artie have been the best-backed runners since winning their previous starts. A wealth of money has come in for the talented two-year-olds, but Tony McEvoy is expecting improvement from his filly, Concealer, ahead of the $1.5 million feature.
The daughter of Nicconi ($35,000 purchase) is on the third line of betting at $7.50 with Sportsbet.com.au after flashing home for second behind in the Blue Diamond Prelude behind Samara Dancer.
“She's thrived [since the Prelude], she hasn't left an oat and she looks beautiful,” McEvoy said.
McEvoy believes Concealer will perform better from the barriers and is confident heading into the Blue Diamond.
“Sadly she just looked the other way when the gates opened, but I've got no doubt that she would have won had she jumped,” he said.
“She has had a faultless preparation and I'm really excited about her going in to the Blue Diamond.”
Many experts are stating that current $2.75 favourite, Extreme Choice, will be suspect at the 1200m distance, and although McEvoy thinks it's the horse to beat, he too is querying its ability to see out the distance.
“If Extreme Choice runs the 1200m then he's clearly the one to beat,” McEvoy said. “We're all querying him at 1200 but that's a guess.
“Flying Artie had a real Blue Diamond style about him as does my filly and Samara Dancer for that matter and swoopers win more Blue Diamond's than on-pacers.
“I think it's pretty typical people talking up their colts because they want them to be a stallion if they win the Blue Diamond, but I don't think there's much between them.”
Top Blue Diamond market picks:
Extreme Choice – $2.75
Flying Artie – $3.50
Concealer – $8.00
Samara Dancer – $8.50
Star Turn – $13
Miss Nymeria – $17
Zamzam – $21
Power Trip – $26
Revolving Door – $26
Valliano – $26
Selenia – $34
Sweet Sherry – $34
Impressive Saturday winner to bypass Blue Diamond
Weatherly made good use of a track bias at Flemington last Saturday when it won the Talindert Stakes by 1.5 lengths eased down in the line, but connections have opted to bypass the Blue Diamond Stakes.
Trainer Paul Messara spoke with owner Oussama Aboughazale about paying a late entry free into the group 1 contest, but both decided against it and they will now target the Group 1 Golden Slipper on March 19.
“Neither the owner or myself is keen to pay the late entry fee and back up into the Blue Diamond next Saturday so we will wait with him,” Messara said.
“We want to look after him and will aim towards the Golden Slipper.
“Getting there will be the tricky part with prizemoney deciding it so we'll look at the options and work out where we go next.”
The two-year-old by Beneteau [also part-owned by Aboughazale] has won $76,200 after its win on Saturday and it looked to have something in the tank. Messara isn't holding back about his confidence in the speedy two-year-old.
“I thought he was very impressive and was not at full stretch which is very encouraging,” Messara said.
“I've said previously I think he's the fastest horse I have trained. He just has an abundance of speed.
“We [Arrowfield Stud] were devastated to lose Beneteau so early in his stud career but in this horse I believe we have a worthy successor.”
Weatherly is a $15 chance at CrownBet.com.au for the 2016 Golden Slipper.
Newitt growing in confidence with Extreme Choice
Jockey Damien Oliver confirmed that he will be riding Flying Artie in the Blue Diamond Stakes this Saturday and fellow rider Craig Newitt couldn't be more happy.
Newitt will ride current $2.75 favourite Extreme Choice after Oliver chose its stablemate despite bookmakers having Flying Artie at a longer price.
Newitt rates both horses as top chances and the barrier draw could decide which Mick Price-trained two-year-old starts the Blue Diamond as favourite.
“I think it [the draw] will probably establish which one runs favourite but to be honest I reckon it will have more of an effect on Ollie [Damien Oliver] than me,” Newitt said.
“If he draws further out than say barrier 10, then he's probably going to have to go back. His horse has a habit of missing the start anyway, so he might have no choice but to go back if he doesn't draw a gate.
“But my bloke's going to press forward regardless. He's that quick out of the barriers he could lead an Oakleigh Plate let alone a Blue Diamond.
“If there's mad speed he can take a sit, if there's not I'd be happy to lead.”
Newitt thinks there isn't much between Extreme Choice and Flying Artie and he's not worried about his mount seeing out the distance.
“They had a good hitout and there was nothing between them and I imagine Mick will gallop them together again on Tuesday,” Newitt said.
“I'm just growing in confidence. I reckon my bloke will definitely run a strong 1200m no matter what happens and the drop out horses has taken a fair bit of speed out of the race.
“My horse is bombproof. Put it this way, I reckon Mick will win the race but no-one's quite sure which one it will be.”
Mick Price will also line up China Dream, which stands at $21 with Bet365.com.au.
Hayes brings team of Blue Diamond hopefuls to Caulfield
Trainers David Hayes and Tom Dabernig could have up to four runners in Saturday's Blue Diamond Stakes with three horses already confirmed to start.
Valliano, Highland Beat and Zamzam have been confirmed to start in the $1.5 million feature with only stablemate Seaburge on the cut-line of making the field.
Five-time Blue Diamond winner David Hayes is hoping Seaburge can make the field after it won on debut at Pakenham on January 21.
“I hope he makes the field,” Hayes said. “He looks to me as an ideal Blue Diamond horse as he gets back and finishes strongly.”
The best-backed Hayes/Dabernig runner is Zamzam at $21 with Sportsbet.com.au. The daughter of Redoute's Choice won well on debut at Moonee Valley before running ninth in the Blue Diamond Prelude behind Samara Dancer, but many bettors are expecting an improved performance in the group 1 this Saturday.
Stablemate Valliano is a last-start winner at Caulfield in the Inglis Premier. The Equiano gelding was a $60,000 purchase and has already won in excess of $200,000. Bookmakers have it safe in the market at $26 with Highland Beat ($81) not favoured to win.