My Gladiola did not let her trainer or the large contingent of owners down with a stunning debut win at Sandown.
The victory in the filly’s division of the Blue Diamond Preview (1000m) on Saturday, saw the John Mcardle-trained two-year-old leap to the top of betting for the Group 1 Blue Diamond Stakes (1200m), due to be run at Caulfield, on February 22.
My Gladiola had her price slashed from $15 to $5 with betting sites following Saturday’s victory in which she recorded a time one second quicker than the colt’s and gelding’s division run 35 minutes earlier.
Ridden by Jamie Mott, My Gladiola ($5.50) scored by 1-½ lengths from Price Tag ($5.50) with Wiltshire Square ($4.80) a further 1-¾ lengths away third.
McArdle is in New Zealand attending the Karaka Yearling Sale and Mott was high in his praise for the daughter of I Am Invincible who he had ridden in two jump-outs prior to Saturday’s success without the filly being let off the bridle.
“I’m really excited by her and have been for quite a while,” Mott said.
“She jumps good, she travels well, doesn’t overdo it.
“There were 13 runners here today and every one of them came here thinking they are Blue Diamond hopes, but I suppose 10 are going to leave disappointed.
“I would have been happy for her to win by a small margin knowing how much improvement she does have, so knowing she does have the acceleration to put a field away like that is exciting.
“She was able to settle amongst them, have no rail on the inside and yes, she did get a bit lost, but she will take good benefit from it.”
McArdle had indicated prior to Saturday’s debut the Blue Diamond Prelude (1100m) on February 8 was a likely stepping stone to the Blue Diamond.
Prior to My Gladiola’s impressive debut, race experience had proven beneficial for Shining Star who returned from a break against five opponents in the colt’s and gelding’s division.
The Lindsay Park-trained two-year-old had three starts prior to Christmas that included placings up the straight at Flemington and a victory at Caulfield in November.
Despite a slow getaway, Shining Smile quickly recovered to share the lead on the fence before taking over with 300m to run.
Sent out the $1.65 favourite, Shining Smile registered a 1-¾ length victory from a wayward Yamashita’s Gold (21) with Bermondsey ($26) a short-neck away third.
Trainers Ben, Will and J D Hayes will see how the colt recovers from Saturday’s victory as to whether he contests the Blue Diamond Prelude on the way to the Blue Diamond.
“He’s very professional and was up against a small field, all unraced horses, so we’ll get a better idea of how that race was in the next couple of weeks when those horses come out and run again,” Ben Hayes said.
“But he’s done everything right in winning one of the main lead ups to the race (Blue Diamond) and it shows he’s right on track.
“We’ll consider the Prelude. It’s probably the most tried and true way of getting to the big one, but we’ll see how he pulls up first.”
