Promising colt Ollivander can confirm targets in Sydney and Melbourne if he performs well in the first race of this year’s Blue Diamond series.
Ollivander made an immediate impression when he finished strongly to win on debut at Caulfield last month.
He races for the second time in Saturday’s Listed Blue Diamond Preview (1000m) for colts and geldings at the same track.
The meeting also features the fillies Blue Diamond Preview, with the Preludes two weeks later ahead of the Group One Blue Diamond on February 24.
The Blue Diamond is on the agenda for Ollivander but the colt also has a Sydney trip in the pipeline for the $250,000 Inglis Classic (1200m) on February 10 at Warwick Farm.
Co-trainer Simon Zahra said Ollivander, who cost $70,000 at last year’s Inglis Classic sale, had shown a lot of talent.
“He’s always shown us good ability and he’s really held together well and matured up well while he’s been in work,” Zahra said.
“He’ll go to this race and then maybe the Inglis race in Sydney and then maybe the Blue Diamond if he can hold up.
“They’re the targets but we’ll just see how he comes out of this run and then decide from there what we do.”
Ollivander was given a week away from Mathew Ellerton and Zahra’s Flemington stable to freshen up after his Caulfield win.
He won a jump-out easily at Flemington last Friday in preparation for Saturday.
“He had a week at the farm, still in work but just on the grass during the day just to get him away from the stable,” Zahra said.
“We had him in a bit of a holding pattern and then he just had a nice jump-out the other day.
“He probably needed it as he was a bit above himself, so he’s tightened up nicely and come through it well.”
Saturday’s field of eight includes stakes winners Run Naan and Long Leaf, both unbeaten from two starts.
Ollivander has the outside barrier but Zahra believes the colt can measure up again.
“I think he’s probably improved from that debut run,” Zahra said.
“I know he might not have beaten much in the jump-out the other day but he did it pretty comfortably.
“From that gate he probably just needs a few things to go right, but he’s a nice horse.”
