Reigning champion trainer Mick Price is planning his Blue Diamond Stakes 2017 assault as he chases successive wins in the classic, but knows the timing may not be ideal for the promising Lone Eagle.
Mick Price is gearing up for a 2017 Blue Diamond Stakes win after his success last autumn with Extreme Choice (pictured). Photo: Ultimate Racing Photos.
Last Melbourne Autumn Racing Carnival the locally-based horseman ran the quinella with stablemates Extreme Choice and Flying Artie finishing one-two in the $1.5 million Ladbrokes Blue Diamond Stakes (1200m).
Both colts went on to win Group 1 races in the spring with Extreme Choice beating the older sprinters at Moonee Valley in the Moir Stakes and Flying Artie taking out the Coolmore Stud Stakes on Derby Day.
Price has confirmed first-up targets for both stars with the Oakleigh Plate on Blue Diamond Stakes Day for Extreme Choice and Flemingtonâs Black Caviar Lightning Stakes the following month for Flying Artie.
It could be another huge Blue Diamond Day for Price who is also making plans for his current crop of two-year-olds heading towards the feature race on February 25 at Caulfield.
Leading his charge for the 2017 edition is Cao Cao who sits as a $17 shot in the latest pre-field Blue Diamond Stakes odds at race sponsor Ladbrokes.com.au.
A son of Fastnet Rock, Cao Cao has had two starts to date for a win and a second.
The second came on debut behind the TJ Smith Stakes-bound favourite Astern in the Group 3 Maribyrnong Plate (1000m) at Flemington during the Melbourne Cup Carnival.
He then broke his maiden status later in November at Moonee Valley dropping back in class for an easy two and three-quarter length win over 1000m.
Price, who also prepared the 2012 Blue Diamond Stakes winner Samaready, would also like to get his currently unraced Zoffany colt Lone Eagle into the field if time permits.
The youngster has trialled just once on a Heavy (8) Cranbourne track back in October last year, but is showing plenty of promise at home according to Price who spoke to Racing Victoria this week.
“Cao Cao is our main one as he’s had the experience and he’s the tough one and he’s got plenty of improvement to come,” Price said.
âI’d love to see Lone Eagle come up because I really like him. But just with the timing, he’s got a big job in front of him.”
Originally Price had plans to run Lone Eagle over the spring, but an injury setback forced a delay to his anticipated first trip to the races.
“He’s a beautiful colt,” Price said. “It would have been good to get a run into him before Christmas and then put him out and get your timing right and then run in the autumn two-year-olds but he got kicked in the shoulder.
“It was very unpleasant. It wasn’t a bad injury but with those soft tissue injuries, you lose your whole rhythm of what you are doing with him. We had to stop him and get him right.
“He is right now. He trialled when we were away on the Gold Coast and he’ll trial again in the morning.â
Price said the colt would go via the traditional Blue Diamond Stakes path running in the $150,000 Listed Blue Diamond Preview (1000m) on January 25 and possibly the Group 3 Blue Diamond Prelude over 1100m on February 11.
“I’ve got to run him in the Preview on Australia Day over 1000 metres here and then see what we can do with him,â he said.
âHe’s got no prize money obviously so hopefully he goes really good in the preview and that will tell us which way to go.”
Price was also extremely happy with the recent progress of Cao Cao who he saved from a Magic Millions 2YO Classic run last weekend in favour of having him fit and firing for the autumn.
“He’s in work at the moment and he’s jumping out of his skin – he’s a bit of a lad,” he said.
“I think we’ll trial him shortly and then probably run in the 1100m of the Prelude.
“The horse looks fantastic. His form is good and I think he’s a genuine colt. The 1200m will be fantastic for him and he’s got some prize money and he’ll be a Blue Diamond horse no problem.”
Thereâs also a possible Blue Diamond Stakes bid on the agenda for Priceâs unraced and un-trialled Lonhro colt Chiyou.
“He’s a lovely colt but I’m not sure he’s going to put it together right now to take him into the Blue Diamond,â Price said.
“I’m not sure he’s as mature as the others. I like the horse but I need to trial him and see how he pulls up and then make a decision.
“A horse of the future, but I’m not sure he’s now.”
Lone Eagle is listed at $51 in all-in Blue Diamond Stakes odds and Chiyou an $81 roughie.
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