Peter Snowden rates Guelph his leading Blue Diamond hope and after a pleasing trackwork hitout this week, jockey Kerrin McEvoy is starting to agree.
McEvoy will get an even better guide when he rides Guelph in her Melbourne debut in Saturday’s Group Three Blue Diamond Fillies Prelude (1100m).
The Darley team has a number of contenders for the $1 million Group One Blue Diamond on February 23, including unbeaten Metastasio who led all the way with McEvoy aboard in the Chairman’s Stakes last weekend.
“After sitting on her (Guelph) on Tuesday morning I would probably have her marginally ahead of the other filly (Metastasio),” McEvoy said.
“It just depends on how she races and handles Caulfield tomorrow, and what position she can take up in a Blue Diamond.
“They are two different fillies. One is up on the pace and the other filly (Guelph) gets a little bit further back.
“I’ve got a little bit of time to make the decision and hopefully the team gives me enough time to get it right.”
Guelph returned with a classy victory at Warwick Farm on Australia Day, coming from well back with a strong finishing burst under jockey Rodney Quinn.
“It was a massive win coming from back in the field and rounding them up like she did,” McEvoy said.
“She has travelled down to Melbourne nicely and her work on Tuesday morning was pretty pleasing.”
Guelph is the $1.70 favourite ahead of stablemate Montsegur ($4.40) while McEvoy also rides Kuroshio who is equal favourite for the colts and geldings Prelude.
Kuroshio was claimed by Dissident in the Preview and steps up to 1100m for the first time.
He is expected to have improved fitness-wise but McEvoy believes the colt might need to take a sit if he is to run a strong 1200m in the Blue Diamond.
“He shouldn’t be forgotten. He’s got some nice performances under his belt,” he said.
The Preludes are on the undercard to the C F Orr Stakes (1400m) where Darley veteran Pinwheel is chasing a breakthrough Group One win.
“He’s been around for a while and is a gentleman of a horse to be around in the stable and to ride,” McEvoy said.
“I’ve had a good few wins on him and I’m rapt to be on him in another Group One. It’s a quality field but at the same time it wouldn’t surprise me to see him finish in the top three placings.”
