Leading Blue Diamond Stakes contender Samara Dancer has passed a crucial test at Morphettville in the absence of her injured trainer Phillip Stokes.
The third favourite for Saturday’s Group One race at Caulfield, Samara Dancer had an enforced gallop after bleeding from one nostril when she won the Blue Diamond Fillies Prelude on February 13.
Stokes was in contact with his stable from his Adelaide hospital bed after being kicked in the ribs by a filly as he was unloading her from a float on Monday.
“I’ve got a couple of broken ribs but I’ll be right by Friday,” Stokes told Melbourne’s Radio RSN.
“Samara Dancer galloped over 1000 metres with a mate and has done all she has to do.”
Stokes said he expected to be at Caulfield on Saturday to oversee Samara Dancer and his other Group One runners, Hucklebuck in the Futurity Stakes and Eclair Choice in the Oakleigh Plate.
