Horse Racing

Mick Price’s promising filly Malasun skyrocketed into Blue Diamond Stakes 2012 calculations on Australia Day, the previously unraced youngster scoring an upset win on debut in the BD Fillies Preview at Caulfield.

With Damien Oliver in the saddle the nicely-bred daughter of Red Ransom out of Encosta De Lago mare Malapert went out as an $8.50 chance for the $100,000 Patincak Farm Blue Diamond Preview Fillies (1000m), markets dominated by previous five-length Caulfield winner Sweet Little Lies ($1.70).

While Sweet Little Lies finished a credible fourth after leading early on, Malasun emerged as the best chance for the fillies in the $1 million Group 1 Blue Diamond Stakes (1200m) at Caulfield on February 25 with her big one and a quarter length win over the Robert Smerdon-trained Members Joy ($10).

Finishing off the trifecta a further half-length away was Anthony Freedman’s previously undefeated Exceed And Excel filly Sabie ($10).

The last filly to win the Blue Diamond Stakes was the former David Hayes-trained Sleek Chassis (Flying Spur-Tigereye) back in 2007.

Following Thursday’s performance Oliver is hopeful Malasun, an $80,000 purchase from the 2011 Melbourne Premier Yearling Sales, may be the next.

“She’s a real two-year-old, she’s an up-and-runner and it’s good now that she’s shown she can sit and chase; it was a good effort,” Oliver said.

“She’s qualified (for the Blue Diamond Stakes) now.

“We’ve just got to do the right thing by her and get her to the Diamond in nice condition.”

Last year’s Blue Diamond Preview for fillies winner One Last Dance went on to win the Blue Diamond Prelude at her next start.

This year’s editions of the $125,000 Group 3 Blue Diamond Preludes (1100m), one each for fillies and colts and geldings, will run at Caulfield on February 11.

Price, however, has indicated he is unlikely to back Malasun up in the race, bypassing the chance of a $1 million bonus for the Blue Diamond Series Triple Crown.

“She doesn’t need another run,” he said.

After her upset Preview success, Malasun had their Blue Diamond Stakes betting price slashed by the bookies in from $41 to $8 at Luxbet.

She is now equal third favourite with Thursday’s Blue Diamond Preview (Colts & Geldings) winner The Travelling Man, markets led by Tony McEvoy’s stakes winning colt Jimando ($5) and the Gai Waterhouse-trained Raceway ($5.50).

The Travelling Man is ineligible for the Blue Diamond Series bonus with only nine runners in his Thursday assignment, a minimum field of 10 horses in each leg is stipulated in the conditions.

Should she go all the way and become the 2012 Blue Diamond Stakes winner, Malasun would be atoning for the 2003 disqualification of Price’s first-past-the-post Roedean.

Price had a small consolation that year with Halibery awarded second, and also prepared 2004 and 2005 Blue Diamond Stakes third placegetters World Peace and Perfectly Ready.

His most recent Blue Diamond Stakes contender was Holdontoyahorses, the Dane Shadow filly finishing fifth to Darley-owned superstar Sepoy in the million dollar showdown last year.

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2012 Blue Diamond Fillies Preview Results

Caulfield Race 4 – 26/01/2012