Thermal Current won’t run again before the Group One Blue Diamond Stakes but stablemate Dissident needs the experience of another start in Saturday’s Prelude at Caulfield.
That’s the assessment from premier trainer Peter Moody following the notable omission of Thermal Current from Saturday’s Group Three Blue Diamond Prelude (1100m).
Moody said they had decided to roll the dice on Thermal Current gaining a Blue Diamond start.
“He galloped strongly yesterday (Tuesday) morning and when we sat back and assessed it we thought he was about number 13 in the order of entry,” Moody said.
“And through the process of elimination we had him as high as number nine so I didn’t feel he needed the run.
“Dissident, I felt he probably needs the experience and if he did happen to win it wouldn’t hurt because we have to look at paying a late entry.”
The colts and geldings division of the Prelude has attracted a field of seven including the Gai Waterhouse-trained Marseille Roulette who will be ridden by Craig Williams.
The Blue Diamond Prelude for fillies has eight acceptors headed by the Peter Snowden-trained Guelph.
She makes her Victorian debut after a second in the Gimcrack Stakes last October and a first-up win at Warwick Farm on Australia Day.
Moody will start Quest For Peace in the fillies race and she resumes after finishing fourth in Listed company at Flemington on debut in October.
“She’s a nice filly but probably strikes me as more of a Sires’ (Produce Stakes) filly,” Moody said.
“She probably raced a bit close the day she raced up the straight at Flemington, so we’ll probably ride her a little quieter and look for her to be strong late.”
Moody said Thermal Current and Dissident were his main Diamond hopes but added Quest For Peace could also run there on her way to the Group Two Sires’ Produce (1400m) at Flemington on March 9.
Snowden has the early favourites for the respective Preludes with Kuroshio shading Dissident in betting on the colts and geldings race while Guelph is at $1.50 to win the fillies division.
