The highly regarded Field Of Play has officially been added to the Group 1 Blue Diamond Stakes field after connections paid the late entry fee following a promising gallop at Cranbourne on Saturday.
Although the gelding was not originally nominated, connections had until Monday morning to pay the $55,000 fee. Co-trainer Trent Busuttin confirmed on Sunday that the decision had already been made.
“We paid up for him after he galloped on Saturday,” Busuttin said. “We’re very happy with him and he’s a horse that’s got no issues.
“He’s a very straight-forward horse. He eats, sleeps and he bounced through the race well and the same with the gallop, so we made the payment.
“Hopefully we get through the week, and he’ll go in with every chance.”
The unbeaten Deep Field gelding, purchased as a yearling for $500,000 after an initial $255,000 weanling sale, will be ridden by top jockey Blake Shinn.
Online betting sites currently list Field Of Play as a $7 co-favourite alongside Palm Angel, with another filly, Our Gladiola, close behind at $7.50.
