The experience of one start on the Flemington straight course should help Diamond Player when she backs up in Saturday’s Maribyrnong Plate four days after being unplaced in a Listed race.
Trainer Anthony Cummings was annoyed the filly was not given the opportunity in a trial before she ran eighth in Tuesday’s Listed Emirates Airline Plate.
“They wouldn’t let the horses from Caulfield work on the course last week,” Cummings said.
“They restricted the trials to horses trained at Flemington.
“It’s important for horses, especially young horses, to have experience up the straight before they race.
“I’ve been coming to the trials since I was a kid.
“The old man (Bart) was always talking about the straight trials and how the horses need it.”
The Emirates Plate was the second start for Diamond Player who finished eighth on debut at Rosehill after getting into trouble early when she hit the running rail.
She will be joined in the Group Three Maribyrnong Plate (1000m) by stablemate Diamond Costa if the first emergency gains a start.
“He is a nice colt but I wanted to bring him last week as well,” Cummings said.
A field of 16 two-year-olds will run in the Maribyrnong with Diamond Costa favoured over his stablemate at $11 on TAB Sportsbet and the filly at $35.
The early $2.80 TAB Sportsbet favourite for the race is the Tony McEvoy-trained Jimando.
The Commands colt was an impressive winner of last month’s Debutants Stakes at Caulfield.
AAP TURF
