Talented filly Loving Gaby has lost her spot at the top of the betting even though she has been passed fit to take her place in the 2019 Group 1 $1.5m Ladbrokes Blue Diamond Stakes (1200m) at Caulfield on Saturday.
Loving Gaby, above, has been passed fit to run in the 2019 Ladbrokes Blue Diamond Stakes at Caulfield. Photo by Ultimate Racing Photos.
The Ciaron Maher and David Eustace trained Loving Gaby had to undergo a second inspection from Racing Victoria’s vets after being found to be lame in the off side fore leg on Thursday, but was cleared to run following an examination on Friday morning.
Racing Victoria has ordered another inspection by its vets on race morning but despite getting the all clear to line up in the Group 1 for the two year olds, Loving Gaby has drifted in the betting at Ladbrokes.com.au to $6 and is now the second favourite behind the Anthony Freedman trained Lyre who has firmed in from $9 to be the top pick at $5 on race eve.
The Mick Price trained Shotmaker, a betting drifted from $10 to $15, also had to undergo a second vet’s inspection this morning and was also passed fit to run in the Blue Diamond Stakes.
Racing Victoria released the following statement on twitter on Friday morning.
“RV Vets have this morning completed their re-inspections of the Mick Price trained Shotmaker and the Ciaron Maher and David Eustace trained Loving Gaby, with both horses passed fit. As a precaution, they will both be re-examined on arrival at Caulfield tomorrow.”
Loving Gaby was installed as the early favourite for the Blue Diamond Stakes following her debut win in the Group 3 $160,000 Ladbrokes Chairman’s Stakes (1000m) at Caulfield on February 2 and will be lining up for her second race start on Saturday.
New race favourite Lyre is the winner of two of her three race starts and raced into Blue Diamond Stakes contention with her win at double figure odds in the Group 2 $200,000 Ladbrokes Blue Diamond Prelude (Fillies) (1100m) at Caulfield on February 9.
Damian Lane takes the ride again on Loving Gaby who has drawn awkwardly at barrier twelve in the fourteen horse Blue Diamond Stakes field while Lyre will jump from gate five with Luke Currie in the saddle.
The Freedman stable will also saddle up the unbeaten I Am Immortal who will jump from barrier nine with Ben Melhan choosing to take the ride again.
I Am Immortal will race with the ear muffs and a tongue tie on for the first time and is currently listed at $9.50 at Ladbrokes.com.au.
