Blondie raced into Blue Diamond Stakes 2017 contention at Moonee Valley on Friday night with the well-bred chestnut filly winning her race debut.
Blondie has the 2017 Ladbrokes Blue Diamond Stakes in sight after winning her debut at Moonee Valley on Australia Stakes Night. Photo: Ultimate Racing Photos.
Prepared by Brendan McCarthy, Blondie is a daughter of the 2009 Blue Diamond Stakes winner Reward For Effort and a half-sister to Divine Mr Artie.
She could be given the chance to emulate her sire with success in the same two-year-oldâs autumn classic with McCarthy naming the $1.5 million Ladbrokes Blue Diamond Stakes (1200m) at the fillyâs home Caulfield track on February 25 as a possible aim.
Blondie went into the $40,000 Sweeney Estate Agents Plate (1000m) on Australia Stakes Night without an official lead-up trial after McCarthy scratched her from the $150,000 Group 3 Ladbrokes Blue Diamond Fillies Preview (1000m) on Australia Day.
She jumped $13 in betting, but made a good first impression with Damien Oliver guiding her to a tidy one and three-quarter length victory over the Robbie Griffiths-trained favourite Zarpoya ($3.60).
McCarthy was pleased with his fillyâs tough win from a wide barrier on Friday evening and her sharp winning time of 58.17 seconds, which is close to the 57.19s 1000m track record held by Sweet Emily.
“We decided to take this race on rather than the tougher one yesterday, and we’ll try and teach her a bit on the way,â McCarthy said post-win on Friday night.
“Coming from that gate [seven of eight] was always going to be a worry.
“She was beautiful and relaxed today.
“She had a bit of a mishap in the pool at Caulfield this afternoon, and it was a bit of a worry.
“She had a bit of skin off, it was touch and go if we’d run tonight.
“Scratching her from yesterday has worked out well; I think it was a pretty smart race yesterday too.
“The time was good, and she’s improving every time.”
Next-up for Blondie is a Caulfield run on CF Orr Stakes Day, February 11, in the $200,000 Group 2 Blue Diamond Prelude (1100m) for fillies.
She currently pays $26 in all-in Blue Diamond Stakes odds at Ladbrokes.com.au with markets led by the Lindsay Park-trained Fastnet Rock filly Catchy and Team Snowdenâs Group 3 Canonbury Stakes winner from the weekend at Rosehill Pariah at $8 each.
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