Connections of Blue Diamond Stakes second favourite Rulership face an anxious wait to see if the colt makes the final field for Victoria’s premier two-year-old race.
A winner on debut at Randwick before finishing second to Hanseatic in the Blue Diamond Prelude for colts and geldings at Caulfield on February 8, Rulership is 20th in the ballot order for Saturday’s Group One Blue Diamond Stakes at Caulfield.
The Blue Diamond Stakes final field of 16, plus four emergencies, will be announced on Tuesday.
Peter Snowden, who trains in partnership with his son Paul, said he did not realise Rulership was so far down the entry order.
Stablemate Nitrous leapt above Rulership to 17th spot with his second placing behind Ole Kirk in the Talindert Stakes at Flemington on Saturday.
“We’ll have a anxious few days to find out if we make the field,” Snowden said.
“Rulership has made improvement out of that run as it was only his second run and I know he led first-up, but that’s not the way to ride him.
“He’s definitely a better horse ridden back off the speed and you can imagine a Blue Diamond field of 16 runners there would be good speed, there always is, and sitting back off them, I’m sure he’ll make his presence felt.”
Snowden, who has three Blue Diamond victories, the most recent with Pride Of Dubai in 2015, says Rulership goes into Saturday’s in top order.
He said the experience of having run at Caulfield would be beneficial.
“We’ve worked him up in Sydney a few times this way and he spent two weeks as a yearling down here,” Snowden said.
“But Caulfield is a bit different, especially for Sydney horses, as they can get a bit off balance, but he was perfect around a corner.
“He’s 100 per cent, third-up he’s had the perfect preparation and he’s been racing against some handy horses.
“Hopefully we’re good enough on the day and get our share of luck.”
Rulership is the $6 second elect in Blue Diamond odds behind the Anthony Freedman-trained Hanseatic at $2.30.
Letzbeglam, an impressive winner of the fillies division of the Blue Diamond Prelude, is next at $8.
