Robbie Griffiths is looking to enhance his claims for Blue Diamond Stakes honours when he runs two promising colts in a lead-up race at Caulfield.
Saturday has two divisions of the Blue Diamond Preludes, one for colts and geldings and one for fillies, with both having a major bearing on the make up of Victoria’s richest two-year-old race at Caulfield on February 22.
Griffiths runs Glenfiddich and Mysterious Art over 1100m on Saturday in a bid to cement their places in the Blue Diamond.
Glenfiddich and Mysterious Art are outsiders on Saturday as they look to turn the tables on their Blue Diamond Preview meeting with Hanseatic at Caulfield on January 25 where they finished second and sixth respectively.
“Glenfiddich is coming off a really good return and Mysterious Art wasn’t that far back,” Griffiths said.
“Mysterious Art handled himself pretty well on debut and I think he got a lot out of the experience.
“Glenfiddich has the experience of the spring behind him and we were confident going into his first-up run from the good draw he’d give us a good run.
“He held second placing quite comfortably and there was a margin to third to say we are right in the mix and the extra distance shouldn’t be a problem.”
Griffiths expects Glenfiddich to make the Blue Diamond field while a third or fourth-placed finish for Mysterious Art would likely to warrant a start.
“I suppose if you have a ticket in it, you probably have a crack because you never know,” Griffiths said.
“It is a horse race and anything can happen but you’d much rather be going in off positive runs, rather than hoping.”
Hanseatic opened the $2.25 favourite for Saturday’s colts and geldings Prelude where he will be pitted against Sydneysider Rulership ($3.90), an impressive debut winner for Peter and Paul Snowden.
The pair dominates early betting with Maribyrnong Plate winner Hard Landing holding down the third line at $15.
The fillies division is not as clear cut.
Muntaseera, one of three runners for the Ciaron Maher and David Eustace stable, has favouritism at $3 over the Snowden-trained Fresh at $3.20 with another Maher and Eustace filly A Beautiful Night third pick at $6.
Hanseatic ($3.50) and Rulership ($8) hold sway in Blue Diamond betting from Fresh and Muntaseera at $11.
