A big decision is pending for connections of the 2017 Ladbrokes Blue Diamond Prelude winner Property who is not currently nominated for the Group 1 in a fortnight.
Property may have earned a 2017 Ladbrokes Blue Diamond Stakes bid with his impressive Prelude win on CF Orr Stakes Day. Photo: Ultimate Racing Photos.
The Robert Smerdon-trained son of Starcraft was ultra-impressive late, showing off a blistering turn of foot to take out the $200,000 Group 3 Ladbrokes Blue Diamond Prelude (C&G) over 1100m.
Jockey Craig Williams made it a Blue Diamond Prelude double after his earlier success aboard the Lindsay Park-trained filly Catchy.
One race later he was back in the Caulfield winners’ stall aboard a gun contender for the $1.5 million Group 1 Ladbrokes Blue Diamond Stakes (1200m) back at the track on February 25 should connections opt to pay the hefty $55,000 late entry.
Property completed the Blue Diamond Preview – Prelude double with his CF Orr Stakes Day success and Smerdon said if he owned the horse he would definitely opt to run him in two weeks’ time.
“He certainly had to win today to warrant it,” Smerdon, who won the 1986 Blue Diamond with Let’s Get Physical, said.
“He looks one of the main contenders now.
“They pay good money right down [in the Blue Diamond Stakes]. You’d only have to run in the top eight to get your money back.
“[Part-owner] David Price will think about that and make the call.
“I would [run him if I owned him.”
Smerdon said he would also discuss with Williams what he rated Property’s Blue Diamond Stakes winning chances as.
“It will be interesting to get Craig’s opinion,” he said.
“He felt that he [Property] should be going into the race before today.
“There are a couple of big decisions to be made in the next 24 hours.”
It was a hectic pace set in the Blue Diamond Colts & Geldings Prelude by Lonhro colt Wait For No One who went forward to lead along the rails from the Mick Price-trained Cao Cao.
Once on the straight Williams made his move from out three wide aboard Property, flying down the outside over the final 200m closing hard and fast on the front-runner.
The Peter & Paul Snowden-trained favourite Pariah also launched late putting himself into the race, but Property was too good after getting the beautiful trail into the finish off a nice spot behind Wait For No One who was game up on the speed.
Property lengthened powerfully over the final furlong and had a half-length to spare on Pariah who was also closing strongly, while Wait For No One held for third.
“We got a beautiful run,” Williams said post-win.
“The way he’s come from one run to another I really like.
“He’s really coming on in his prep and has a really good acceleration.
“He was tough late and wow, very impressive performance.
“He certainly as [got scope] and his attitude, he has very similar characteristics to the last filly [Catchy].”
Pride Of Dubai ran second in the Prelude before his 2015 Blue Diamond Stakes win, while the last to complete the double was the Peter Snowden-trained Sepoy (2011).
To back the Blue Diamond Colts & Geldings Prelude winner Property for the Group 1 on February 25 at the hottest autumn racing odds visit Ladbrokes.com.au today.
2017 Blue Diamond Prelude (C&G) Results & Finishing Order
Caulfield Race 4 – 11/02/2017
| Place | # | Horse | Trainer | Jockey | Margin | Br. | Wgt. | SP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2 | PROPERTY | Robert Smerdon | Craig Williams | – | 3 | 55.5kg | $5 |
| 2 | 4 | PARIAH | Peter & Paul Snowden | Kerrin McEvoy | 0.75L | 9 | 55.5kg | $3.40F |
| 3 | 3 | WAIT FOR NO ONE | David & B Hayes & T Dabernig | Damian Lane | 0.85L | 6 | 55.5kg | $13 |
| 4 | 1 | AZAZEL | Tony McEvoy | Regan Bayliss | 3.1L | 12 | 55.5kg | $14 |
| 5 | 11 | OVERSHARE | Michael, Wayne & John Hawkes | Dwayne Dunn | 3.3L | 2 | 55.5kg | $21 |
| 6 | 5 | CAO CAO | Mick Price | Mark Zahra | 4.05L | 8 | 55.5kg | $7 |
| 7 | 8 | INDERNILE | Gerard Moloney | Patrick Moloney | 4.45L | 10 | 55.5kg | $19 |
| 8 | 7 | MARSUPIAL | John O’Shea | Ben Melham | 4.65L | 5 | 55.5kg | $7.50 |
| 9 | 12 | SHEER MADNESS | John Salanitri | Stephen Baster | 4.85L | 1 | 55.5kg | $71 |
| 10 | 10 | WILL’S BID | David & B Hayes & T Dabernig | Damien Oliver | 5.35L | 13 | 55.5kg | $41 |
| 11 | 14 | MIGHTY BOSS | Mick Price | Craig Newitt | 5.75L | 7 | 55.5kg | $31 |
| 12 | 13 | ANNUNCIATE | Pat Hyland | Ryan Maloney | 9.25L | 4 | 55.5kg | $201 |
| 13 | 6 | CAN’T | John Moloney | Luke Nolen | 9.35L | 11 | 55.5kg | $19 |
| – | 9 | DUCIMUS | Michael, Wayne & John Hawkes | Noel Callow | – | 0 | – | – |
