Last Saturday classy young filly Anevay laid her claims to claim an upset 2011 Blue Diamond Stakes result over odds-on favourite Sepoy when she stormed home to win the $100,000 Listed Talindert Stakes (1100m) at Flemington’s Lightning Stakes Day.
Exceed And Excel two-year-old Anevay coasted to a smart 1 ¾ length victory over Cash For Matt and fellow Blue Diamond Stakes hopeful Covered In Class in the Talindert last Saturday, firming in the Blue Diamond odds.
The $1 million Group 1 Blue Diamond Stakes (1200m) is the marquee race at Caulfield Racecourse this Saturday, February 26.
After her Talindert Stakes success, the Tim Martin-trained Anevay secured her spot in the Blue Diamond field.
She climbed from 20th in the Blue Diamond order of entry into 10th and thus firmed in from $21 to the $12 fourth-favourite in the Blue Diamond Stakes betting markets at Luxbet.
Anevay had previously run a close second behind One Last Dance in the Blue Diamond Fillies’ Preview at Caulfield on January 26.
Previous second favourite to win the Blue Diamond Stakes, One Last Dance was sent to the paddock after the victory and ruled out of contention.
Boom jockey Nicholas Hall, who was aboard Anevay for her last two starts including her Talindert victory, is out to win back-to-back Blue Diamond Stakes on Saturday.
Twelve months ago Hall rode Star Witness to victory in both the Talindert and the Blue Diamond Stakes and will attempt to repeat the same winning double with Anevay.
In recent years the Talindert has served as an excellent guide to the Blue Diamond Stakes.
Star Witness was the second two-year-old in the past four years to win Victoria’s premier juvenile showdown on the back of a win in the Talindert.
Despite the dominance of unbeaten colt Sepoy in the Blue Diamond betting, Peter Snowden’s son of Elusive Quality odds-on favourite to win the $1 million showdown, Anevay has her claims and connections are hoping her blistering speed can see her upstage Sepoy on Saturday.
“She’s very quick out of the gates and quick to relax…that’s probably what wins her races,” jockey Hall said of Anevay.
Sepoy is now at $1.75 in the Blue Diamond odds at Luxbet, likely to firm further when the final field of acceptors is released tomorrow.
The 2011 Blue Diamond Stakes barrier draw will also be conducted tomorrow morning and published here at Races.com.au.
Now is the time to lock in your Blue Diamond Stakes favourites before prices shorten, so visit Luxbet now for the full odds and markets.
