Unraced Ole Kirk filly Jadzia and stakes-placed Wild Ruler colt Stretan Ruler will plot a path towards the $2 million Group 1 Sportsbet Blue Diamond Stakes (1200m) following trial wins at Sandown Hillside on Thursday.
Unraced Grahame Begg-trained filly Jadzia settled just off the pace in her six-horse 900-metre trial under Jordan Childs before responding to light riding over the final 200 metres to win by a length.
The $250,000 Group 3 Blue Diamond Preview (1000m) for fillies on January 24 at Caulfield is likely to come under strong consideration for Jadzia following her trial win.
Begg has a near perfect record in recent seasons of the Blue Diamond series, with three winners from four starters since 2008. Written By completed the Blue Diamond Prelude and Blue Diamond Stakes double in 2018 while Dosh won the 2021 Blue Diamond Preview for fillies.
Jordan Childs, rider of Jadzia:
“It’s a long way to get there (Blue Diamond Stakes) but she’s heading the right way. That was her second trial today, her first jumpout (at Cranbourne) was good and she was even better today.
“As far as an educational point of view the trial was perfect, she jumped out of the barriers nicely and I was able to get that little bit of cover in behind them which is good for their experience.
“I then asked her to quicken up, took her off the bridle a little bit to teach her how to stretch out and lengthen to the line. Once I gave her a squeeze, she was right there in my hands and really electric. She’s got a nice turn of foot.
“She’s a pretty smart horse heading the right way. Hopefully she can keep improving.”
Earlier in the day, the Phillip Stokes-trained Stretan Ruler did enough to satisfy winning his 900-metre heat by a neck.
The listed Merson Cooper Stakes (1000m) runner-up will resume in the Group 3 Blue Diamond Prelude (1100m) for colts and geldings at Caulfield on February 7.
Tom Stokes, assistant trainer of Stretan Ruler:
“He’ll have another trial at Caulfield Heath on January 29 and he’ll then be cherry ripe for the (Blue Diamond) Prelude.
“He didn’t have too long out after the Merson Cooper, just under two weeks off and he’s kept good residual fitness from that and is in a good headspace.
“We actually think 1400 metres in time might be his go so it’s an exciting prep where we’re going to learn a lot more about him.”
Meanwhile, dual Group 3-winning three-year-old filly Point Barrow took her first steps towards a return to racing when fourth behind Miss Aria in a 900-metre heat.
Regular rider Daniel Stackhouse gave Point Barrow a quiet hitout towards the back of the five-horse field.
Daniel Stackhouse, rider of Point Barrow:
“We’re tinkered with some gear, she wore a nose band to help her not over race and not run through the bridle too much.
“She handled herself really well, she began just as usual, she didn’t try to fight the crossover. She just dropped her head, found a nice rhythm. She’s just here to stretch her legs. She got down the hill nice, they kicked away from her and then I let her stride the final furlong and she worked to the line nicely.
“She has that Group 1 quality and she’ll get that on her CV very quickly.”
Trainers Anthony and Sam Freedman intend to run Point Barrow first up in the Group 1 Sportsbet Oakleigh Plate (1100m) at Caulfield on February 21.
Should Point Barrow, rated 88, gain an Oakleigh Plate berth, the daughter of Blue Point would carry a featherweight likely below Stackhouse’s minimum riding weight.
MRC Release
