Well-backed Samara Dancer has stamped her class will an impressive win in the Blue Diamond Prelude for fillies at Caulfield.
The Phillip Stokes-trained filly firmed to start the $4.20 favourite in Saturday’s 1100m Group Two race at Caulfield and maintained an unbeaten start to her career as she sprinted to a one-length win.
Samara Dancer had convincingly won her only start in Adelaide in November and Stokes has a big opinion of her.
“She’s pretty good,” Stokes said.
“She’s shown us plenty at home but she had to measure up to this lot and she’s definitely done that. And she’ll only get better.”
Samara Dancer settled in behind the speed before jockey Dom Tourneur angled into the clear at the top of the straight.
She sprinted quickly to burst to the front and held off Concealer ($6.50) who ran home strongly out wide from back in the field while Miss Nymeria ($21) was another three quarters of a length away third.
Stokes said the Blue Diamond in two weeks was the aim.
Tourneur said he liked the way Samara Dancer put paid to her rivals when he asked her to sprint.
Concealer’s jockey Mark Zahra was impressed with the way the filly charged to the line.
“She’ll be spot on in two weeks,” Zahra said.
Calliope’s jockey Steven Arnold said she had more to offer than she showed in finishing fifth but admitted she would be hard pressed to turn the tables on the winner.
“Maybe she needs blinkers or something,” Arnold said.
