The 2023 Blue Diamond Stakes odds on the progressive Godolphin-raced Barber have trimmed up following an encouraging first-up victory in the Prelude for colts and geldings on Ladbrokes C.F. Orr Stakes Day.

2023 Blue Diamond Prelude winning colt Barber was strong with improvement to come ahead of the Group 1 for Godolphin. Photo: Ultimate Racing Photos.

Class young Exceed And Excel colt Barber retained his flawless record posting a third career win in the Group 3 $300,000 Ladbrokes Blue Diamond Prelude (C&G) over the 1100m track at Sandown Hillside on Saturday.

Sean Keogh from the team said the star in the making had been the team’s number one seed for this year’s Group 1 $1.5 million Ladbrokes Blue Diamond Stakes (1200m) on February 25 since his back-to-back wins last campaign.

“He’s been the first seed for the team for quite some time and he carried that pressure well today,” the Godolphin representative told Racing.com post-win.

Winner of the Kirkham on debut at Randwick the colt added to his future value at stud second-up overcoming a wide alley at Rosehill to claim the $1 million Golden Gift in a devastatingly close finish back in November.

He was excellent again showing plenty of professionalism on track in the Prelude with Jamie Kah giving him a gun run up on the speed before charging home strongly over the final furlong.

Barber jumped beautifully from the barriers and sat right up on the heels of the front runners before moving out deeper on the track at the 400m.

He grabbed the lead with 200m left to travel and was too strong for the eye-catching runner-up, the Ben & JD Hayes-trained resuming Per Incanto colt Little Brose, who finished off well down the outside in his first run since winning Caulfield’s Listed Merson Cooper Stakes in the spring.

In a photo for third the Prelude trifecta was rounded-up out by the winner’s stablemate, fellow on-speed runner Corniche, who held the lead briefly on the straight before being run down late.

Barber was easing in the Prelude markets but strong to the line to give Kah a second win in three years following her 2021 success aboard General Beau who eventually ran fifth in that year’s Blue Diamond Stakes.

Described by trainer James Cummings as a “weapon” ahead of his first-up autumn run Barber lived up to the hype and looks tuned up and ready to turn up for a serious assault on the Group 1 in a fortnight.

“It was good that he could get the job done we’re right at the business end of things,” Keogh said.

“He’s a complete professional. The way he’s carried himself on course today has shown he’s a very smart horse.”

With improvement still to come heading towards his Grand Final there is sure to be plenty of punters getting behind the colt in pre-field Blue Diamond Stakes betting at Ladbrokes.com.au.

Barber is currently the $7 second favourite in the Blue Diamond odds behind Charm Stone ($5.50) with full all-in markets available here.

2023 Blue Diamond Prelude (C&G) Results & Finishing Order

Table Credit: Racing Australia.