The similarities between Weatherly and his sire Beneteau are not lost on Paul Messara.
The Scone-based trainer prepared Beneteau and has Weatherly preparing for a tilt at the Blue Diamond Stakes at Caulfield on February 27.
Weatherly is not among nominations for the Blue Diamond and runs in the Blue Diamond Prelude at Caulfield on Saturday.
Success would entice connections to pay a $55,000 late entry fee for a Blue Diamond start.
Beneteau won the 2010 Prelude before finishing third to Star Witness in the Blue Diamond.
“I haven’t been involved with a horse with as much natural speed as a pure two-year-old since his father Beneteau,” Messara said.
Whereas Beneteau went into his Prelude success having won a maiden at Randwick on debut, Weatherly is coming off a sixth placing in the Blue Diamond Preview at Caulfield on January 26.
Nothing went right for the colt after bungling the start and settling at the rear of the field.
“He came out of the gates and tripped over last time,” Messara said.
“I blamed the horse but I’ll blame the jockey if it happens again.
“He’s not a horse that wants to be out the back and to be swinging on.”
Messara said Weatherly hadn’t put a foot wrong since his debut and was expecting the colt to make dramatic improvement on Saturday.
He said two-year-olds can make improvement every time you do something with them.
“Take them to a jump-out they make improvement, take them to a trial they make improvement and it’s the same with a race,” he said.
“Each time he’s made pretty big steps and it gives you a nice surprise.”
Hong Kong-based Douglas Whyte takes the ride on Weatherly after Craig Williams failed in his bid to have a careless riding suspension reduced on appeal before the Racing Appeals and Disciplinary Board on Tuesday.
Whyte was lured to Melbourne to partner Boban in the Group One CF Orr Stakes.
