Having made the decision to fork out a $55,000 late entry fee for the Blue Diamond Stakes, Field Of Play heads the market for the Group 1 race after a perfect barrier draw.
A field of 16 will line up in Victoria’s most prestigious two-year-old race over 1200m at Caulfield on Saturday with the Trent Busuttin and Natalie-trained Field Of Play drawn in gate five.
Field Of Play was not nominated for the Blue Diamond Stakes field when entries closed last year as he had been earmarked for Hong Kong, but after winning at Moonee Valley on debut and then scoring in the Blue Diamond Prelude (1100m) on February 8, connections decided to pay the late entry fee.
The gelded son of Deep Field has already amassed just shy of $300,000 from his two wins.
Busuttin said Field Of Play had improved, to his eye, since his latest win.
“He worked up perfect this morning,” Busuttin said.
“Touch wood, it’s been very smooth, very trouble free.
“After his gallop this morning, I said the only thing that could go off the rails was a bad barrier draw, and luckily, we’ve got the good draw, and all we have to do now is keep him nice and tidy until Saturday and he’ll run well.”
Field Of Play remained betting companies favourite at $5 for the Blue Diamond Stakes following Tuesday’s draw and heads the market from My Gladiola and Palm Angel, both at $7.
My Gladiola drew barrier 11 and will be ridden in a reserved fashion after having her colours lowered in the filly’s division of the Blue Diamond Prelude, won by Palm Angel.
The John McArdle-trained filly had been Blue Diamond Stakes 2025 favourite prior to the Prelude’s after her impressive debut win in the Blue Diamond Preview at Sandown on January 25.
McArdle said My Gladiola had taken no ill effects from her last start and is looking for the filly to bounce back.
“My job was finished this morning,” McArdle said.
“She galloped this morning with Jamie (Mott) aboard on the course proper at Mornington.
“We were very happy with. Her work on the analytics was as good as my eye and Jamie’s feel which was identical to before the Preview, so she seems to be in good order.
“Barrier 11, we’ll go back, and it will be what it will be, but if we can get a toe into the race, she’s got an electric turn of foot when she’s ridden a bit quieter.
“Hopefully it will work out on Saturday.”
Jason Warren will have dual representation with Palm Angel and rank outsider Eden Rose ($126).
Palm Angel came up with gate one while Eden Rose drew 14, with Warren saying the draw suited both fillies.
“She’s a speed filly that will be able to hold a spot and make use of the barrier,” Warren said of Palm Angel.
“She will settle behind the leaders, and I think Ethan (Brown) will be afforded the luxury of a soft enough run in transit and hopefully he can get her out when he needs to.
“Eden Rose, she drew wide when an unlucky fourth in Debutant, so she will go back and be finishing on.
“She’s drawn well to do that and could outrun her price.”
