Regally bred colt Encryption can re-write the betting for 2018 Blue Diamond Stakes if he can produce a first up win in the Group 3 $150,000 Ladbrokes Chairman’s Stakes (1000m) at Caulfield on Saturday.
Encryption is currently rated a $26 for the Group 1 $1.5m Ladbrokes Blue Diamond Stakes (1200m) at Caulfield on February 24 but is the $4 second favourite for the Chairman’s Stakes behind the Team Hawkes trained first starter Sunset Watch at $3.80.
The son of Lonhro and four times Group 1 winning mare Guelph is resuming from a spell after showing plenty of potential with two placings from two starts during the 2017 Melbourne Spring Carnival.
Encryption finished third at his first race start behind Qafila in the Listed $120,000 Inglis Debutant Stakes (1000m) at Caulfield and then second to Run Naan in the Group 3 $150,000 AAMI Maribyrnong Plate (1000m) at Flemington.
Trainer James Cummings could see plenty of potential in Encryption during the Spring and is expecting further improvement as he returns to racing in the Autumn.
“One of the things that should be in his favour is that he’s had a run at Caulfield and put in a very good effort,” Cummings said.
“He showed us that he was a good colt in his first preparation and it would be very exciting to see him return a better horse this time.”
Damian Lane was aboard Encryption for his two runs in the Spring and gets the mount again on the Lonhro colt who will jump from barrier three in the Chairman’s Stakes field that has been reduced to seven runners with the early scratching of Chicago Typewriter and Metronome.
Sunset Watch has drawn the outside barrier with Dwayne Dunn to ride while $5 third favourite Logan River, with the blinkers on for the first time, will get a good run from barrier two with Jamie Kah on board.