Anthony Freedman and the Godolphin stable look to have a very nice colt ahead of the 2020 Blue Diamond Stakes with Hanseatic flying home for the punters in Saturday’s Listed $160,000 Neds Blue Diamond Preview (1000m) for the colts and geldings.
Hanseatic has firmed in 2020 Blue Diamond betting after a runway win in the Preview for colts and geldings at Caulfield. Photo: Ultimate Racing Photos.
A fast-improving son of Street Boss, Hanseatic jumped the hot favourite in the Preview having defeated subsequent Magic Millions Classic winner Away Game (4th) on debut in Sandown’s Listed Merson Cooper Stakes (1000m) last November.
The form out of that race continued to be franked at Caulfield as Hanseatic ($2.15) and jockey Luke Currie combined for a runaway two and a half length win in the traditional Blue Diamond Stakes lead-up over the Robbie Griffiths-trained Glenfiddich ($10).
It was a better run from Fastnet Rock colt Glenfiddich who had previously run ninth to Hanseatic in the Merson Cooper, while the Blue Diamond (C&G) Preview trifecta was rounded out by Lindsay Park debutant Fixated ($7.50).
Hanseatic jumped well out wide and Currie was able to get the horse out and relaxed despite being unable to find cover during the run.
From the inside alley $151 roughie Claptone led the field around, while Hanseatic and the Ciaron Maher & David Eustace-trained Tanker were together midfield.
Currie held the well-backed colt as slow as he could around the turn before Hanseatic showed off his huge engine in an arrogant performance, while Tanker dropped right out of the race for the line.
Over the final furlong Currie hit the button and Hanseatic responded, still casual in his demolition job to take his career record to two-from-two.
“He’s pretty smart,” Currie summed up post-win.
“He didn’t have the best of starts. He drew wide…we never really found cover.
“But gee…he put it away in about 10 strides so it was a pretty big effort.
“Really looking forward to riding him again.”
The Blue Diamond Preview winner is not yet 100% fit and so still has plenty of improvement to come looking ahead to the Group 3 $200,000 Blue Diamond Prelude (1100m) on February 8 and the Group 1 $1.5 million Blue Diamond Stakes (1200m) on February 22.
Hanseatic was at $10 in futures Blue Diamond Stakes betting before his Preview win and has subsequently into $3.40 through Ladbrokes.com.au – full all-in markets available here.
