Deane Lester has Catchy on top of his 2017 Ladbrokes Blue Diamond Stakes tips and the leading form analyst is confident that the talented filly is the horse to beat in the Group 1 event at Caulfield this afternoon.
Catchy will start the 2017 Ladbrokes Blue Diamond Stakes as a clear favourite. Photo by: Ultimate Racing Photos
Catchy has done nothing wrong during her racing career and she went to the top of Ladbrokes Blue Diamond Stakes betting markets with her fast-finishing win in the Group 2 Blue Diamond Fillies Prelude (1100m) at Caulfield on February 11.
The Blue Diamond Stakes odds of Catchy drifted slightly following her wide barrier draw on Tuesday, but Lester told RSN that the outside gate could actually prove to be a benefit for the daughter of Fastnet Rock.
“I’ve been keen on Catchy all the way through and I’ve got no reason to switch off her come the main day,” Lester said.
“She has been running in small fields and she has been able to maneuverer her way to the outside and get room.
“If she had drawn inside in a big field that would have been a variable that we wouldn’t be so sure.
“If she can be three wide, she only has to get around one turn and Craig Williams will sort that out.
“She is the horse to beat.”
While Lester has Catchy on top of his Ladbrokes Blue Diamond Stakes, there is another Lindsay Park-trained horse that he believes could run a big race at juicy odds.
Muraahib will step-up in class significantly following his dominant victory at Sale on February 5, but Lester believes that the Reset colt must have plenty of upside to be given an opportunity in the Ladbrokes Blue Diamond Stakes.
“The Blue Diamond Stakes is a good race for roughies and last year we found Zamzam and he got into the placings at $40,”
“In the same colours I think that Muraahib could be the one.
“He has had a very low-key build-up, but when you think that Hayes and Dabernig have already got five other runners in the race, did they need an extra one coming off a Sale two-year-olds race.
“I think that he is the sleeper in the field and there is a big wrap on him.
“His Adelaide win was solid, his Sale win was a procession and if he got into the placings I wouldn’t be surprised.
“He probably follows Catchy and he should get the good drag into the race on the back of the favourite.
Catchy is currently available at 2017 Ladbrokes Blue Diamond Stakes odds of $4 and is a clear favourite from Pariah ($5), Property ($7), Tulip ($7) and Formality ($7.50).
