Australia’s leading trainer Ciaron Maher will look to break new ground when he saddles three runners in Victoria’s most prestigious two-year-old event, the Blue Diamond Stakes.
Maher is yet to win the Group 1 for two-year-olds run over 1200m at Caulfield on Saturday and will be represented by three fillies – Icarian Dream, Wiltshire Square and Cherish Me.
Maher’s assistant trainer Jack Turnbull based at Cranbourne said the three fillies enter Saturday’s race with undeniable claims.
He said Cherish Me, coming off a debut win at Geelong in January at her only start, has the highest rating of all the two-year-olds the stable has started this season.
Cherish Me has drawn barrier six and will be ridden by Jamie Melham who is aiming for a second straight Blue Diamond win having scored last year on Hayasugi.
“She’s a beautiful filly, and she’ll get better with age which is the most exciting part,” Turnbull said.
“I think she’s doing these sprint trips because she’s above average.
“She has been in work the whole time. If we were to run in the Diamond and then the Golden Slipper, you don’t want to be in every race because it’ll obviously be too much, but if things don’t work out in the Diamond she can go out and come back in the spring.”
Hopes had been high with Icarian Dream who hasn’t raced since finishing 12th in the Magic Millions 2YO Classic at the Gold Coast in January.
Prior to that, Icarian Dream had won two of her four starts and enters Saturday’s race as the most experienced of the 16 two-year-olds engaged.
Turnbull said the wide draw at the Gold Coast and a wet track counted against her that night.
“It was a horrible gate, and we then struck a track which was soft,” Turnbull said.
“She doesn’t mind the going but her wheels did spin on it and where we were in running it was horrible, we never got into the race.
“Her campaign has been marred by a few average gates and in two-year-old racing it’s pretty important.”
Luck has worked out for Icarian Dream who jumps from barrier seven under Thomas Stockdale.
Turnbull described Wiltshire Square as a little terrier despite the filly still being a maiden.
However, Wiltshire Square has come through the more tradition path to the Blue Diamond, contesting the Preview and Prelude, finishing third on each occasion.
“There’s not much of her but she’s a trier,” Turnbull said.
“Three starts for three stakes placings and her last two she hasn’t had cover. It may not be imperative at Caulfield because you are racing out of the chute but young horses, with something to follow, it generally helps.
“I can’t fault her. She jumps, puts herself on speed and she sees it out pretty strong.”
