The Anthony Freedman-trained Yellow Jersey makes a belated start to his career at Flemington on Saturday and a win in the Better Beyond Plate would see him in contention for the $1 million Blue Diamond Stakes.
Stable representative Lee Freedman said the Exceed And Excel colt was to run in the Listed Debutants Stakes (1000m) won by Jimando at Caulfield on October 12.
“He won his only trial and he was probably going to run near favourite in the Debutants Stakes but had a virus on the day and we scratched him,” Freedman said.
Yellow Jersey was knocked down to part-owner John O’Neill for $140,000 at the Magic Millions Yearling Sale on the Gold Coast last year.
He is out of the Group One-winning Fimiston mare Ellicorsam who won 10 races and just under $775,000 in stakemoney.
“He is beautifully bred and is a strapping, big horse,” Freedman said.
“We of course had Ellicorsam late in her career and won a Swettenham Stud and a Hareeba Stakes with her.
“She was a very good mare and he has inherited a fair bit of her ability.”
Ben Melham will ride the colt who will jump from barrier four in the small field of seven unraced horses over the straight 1000m course.
“I think whatever he does on the day he will improve on,” Freedman said.
“He’s never seen the straight but he has nice ability.”
Yellow Jersey is one of three juveniles engaged in Saturday’s event who are in the Group One Blue Diamond (1200m) at Caulfield on February 25.
Purrealist colt Adjuster, prepared by Byron Cozamanis, and the Peter Snowden-trained Paniolo were also among the 165 two-year-olds paid up as Blue Diamond second declarations on Wednesday.
The Mark Kavanagh-trained If I Could, to be ridden by Damien Oliver, has been backed from $4 to $2.50 favouritism with TAB Sportsbet ahead of Yellow Jersey ($4.50).
If I Could, an Iffraaj half-brother to 2010 Group One Rosehill Guineas winner Zabrasive, was a $NZ540,000 purchase at the New Zealand Premier Yearling Sale at Karaka.
He is raced by Western Australian owner Joe Ricciardo’s Paksian Racing whose colours of lime, black horsehead, lime and black horseshoes cap were also carried by 2008 Cox Plate winner Maldivian.
AAP TURF
