CAULFIELD PREVIEW February 20, 2010 BLUE DIAMOND STAKES (1200M) The Group 1 Blue Diamond Stakes (1200m) at Caulfield hasn’t been the easiest race for punters to decipher in recent years – in the past 15 years only two favourites have been successful, the stars Bel Esprit ($2 in 2002) and Alinghi ($2.15 in 2004). We won’t really know how the quality of this year’s race sits in the scheme of things until we get to the Sydney carnival and test the form in the lead-ups to the Golden Slipper (run at Rosehill in April). However, I get the feeling that the Scone-trained youngster Beneteau and the Tony Vasil-trained filly Psychologist are right up with anything we have seen in Sydney, and as good as any Diamond winner we have seen since Alinghi. Beneteau is a raw talent boasting a pedigree with a strong historical link to the Blue Diamond. His sire Redoute’s Choice in 1999 was one of the race’s best winners, while his dam, Slice Of Paradise (by Encosta De Lago from Oceanfast) is a sister to Alinghi. Beneteau is a magnificent colt, balanced and athletic, and his action is that of a very good horse. His Prelude win was top shelf, coming from behind the pace to win easing in a quicker time than Psychologist, who won the fillies’ division on the same day. In Beneteau’s favour is the fact he is drawn ideally in barrier nine. Jockey Daniel Ganderton can let the speedsters drawn around him do their thing and tack onto their backs in the long, straight run to the home turn. It will be up to Ganderton to get Beneteau safely around the home turn
(he’s a very green colt and won’t have the rail to guide him as he did in the Prelude) for the dash home. A Blue Diamond winner needs to be able to run a strong 1200m, and that’s to Beneteau’s advantage. Psychologist is drawn awkwardly in the widest gate, and to be honest, we really don’t know just how good this filly is. Trainer Tony Vasil said she is a “wow” filly, who has the talent and temperament to be a superstar. If that’s the case, the wide draw won’t stop her and she’s the danger. Star Witness is coming into the Blue Diamond from a different angle to Beneteau and Psychologist. He didn’t run in the Prelude or Preview, with trainer Danny O’Brien taking a softer approach through the Listed Talindert Stakes (1000m, Flemington), a race that only one horse – Sleek Chassis (2007) – has won as a lead-up to winning the Blue Diamond. Star Witness will get back and run on hard – he could be the best of them all – but it will be tough for him to give Beneteau a start and a beating. I believe the fillies Sweet Cheeks, Shaaheq, Crystal Lily, Roulettes and Evidentia all have strong claims to winning this race. Sweet Cheeks is the filly drawn to get a nice run behind the pace, and she will go around way over the odds. Shaaheq fits snuggly into the David Hayes-Sheikh Hamdan profile that won the Blue Diamond with Reaan in 2008. Shaaheq ran the quickest sectionals behind Crystal Lily in her Blue Diamond Preview and she also is drawn to get a nice run off the speed. The tips: Beneteau to beat Psychologist, Star Witness, Sweet Cheeks, Shaaheq and Roulettes.
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Predicted positions on settling
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Race 7, 4.00pm (Melbourne time)
AND ALSO Good horses – as in champions – win Oakleigh Plates (Weekend Hussler, Schillaci, Placid Ark), but not as often as good odds get up. Swiss Ace ($31), Undue ($16), Reactive ($16), Sudurka ($26) are examples from this decade. Amazingly, this year Weekend Hussler fits both categories, 24 months on from his win and 12 months since injury sidelined him. He couldn’t be as sharp as he was, could he? If you’re prepared to bet that he could be – and if you’re right – you’ll never get the luxury of $12 again. And Also suggests you don’t look a gift horse in the mouth and include him and others at odds in any quinellas and trifectas. The others? Well, the price is right at $18 for Gran Sasso, who caught the eye first up when he had little luck in the straight in the Rubiton two weeks back. And Grand Duels ($71), no slouch first up, could sneak into a place at ridiculous odds. One of the above would add grand value if put in the mix with your choices. And you could be playing with the bookies’ money by the time you get to the race if you back these: Set For Fame ($3), in the Armanasco: very smart, and Moody and Nolen are on a roll, and at home. Heart Of Dreams ($3), in the St George: there’s no Typhoon Tracy to hold him out, and Price and Newitt are of the Moody-Nolen ilk. You’re on your own in the Diamond. No, And Also can’t help itself when it comes to urging: Secession could get out to silly odds ($10). Try him. Stephen Howell