Lindsay Park have Zamzam, Valliano and Highland Beat in the 2016 Ladbrokes Blue Diamond Stakes field and co-trainer Tom Dabernig is happy with all three horses ahead of the Group 1 event at Caulfield on Saturday.
Valliano is one of three Lindsay Park-trained runners in the 2016 Ladbrokes Blue Diamond Stakes field. Photo by: Ultimate Racing Photos
Zamzam did plenty wrong when she made her racing debut with a win in the City Jeep Handicap (1000m) at Moonee Valley on January 29, but she was never able to get into the race when she finished ninth in the Group 2 Ladbrokes Blue Diamond Fillies Prelude (1100m) at Caulfield on February 13.
Dabernig believes that Zamzam had excuses for her finishing position in the Blue Diamond Fillies Prelude and he is confident she will produce an improved performance with blinkers on in the Ladbrokes Blue Diamond Stakes.
“Both starts she was back and on the inside,” Dabernig said.
“In her first start when she won, she was green and did a lot wrong, but on that occasion she was able to get in the clear but this time she was racing inside horses and was hesitant.
“When she balanced up in the straight I thought she made up nice ground.
“Blinkers I think will really help her, she has always been a filly that has been a bit prone to looking around and with the benefit of the run in the Prelude, she will be ready to run at her best.
“I think you will see a big improvement with her.
“We almost won it with Reemah last year and I think that she is as good.
“It will come down to where she is in the run, but I just have a feeling about her and I think she will run a strong 1200.”
Valliano is one of only four horses that will take winning form into the Ladbrokes Blue Diamond Stakes after he recorded an impressive win in the Inglis Premier (1200m) at Caulfield on February 6.
Dabernig believes that Valliano has taken plenty of benefit from the run and could not have had a better preparation for the 2016 Ladbrokes Blue Diamond Stakes.
“He has good experience and he is going into the race off a nice last start win,” Dabernig said.
“He has had the perfect lead-up for the race and he is the type of horse that is going to cope with the pressure.
“He is in great order and he hasn’t missed a beat since his last start.”
Highland Beat rounds out the Lindsay Park trio in the 2016 Ladbrokes Blue Diamond Stakes field and he is one of the extreme outsiders in the field at a quote of $101.
The Exceed And Excel colt was no match for Extreme Choice in the Group 3 Chairman’s Stakes (1000m) at Caulfield on February 6 and Dabernig admits that the juvenile will need to improve to have any chance this weekend.
“After running in the Magic Millions, he went forward and tried to burn the candle at both ends,” Dabernig said.
“We were a bit mindful with the Blue Diamond in mind last start that we would try and get him to relax and he relaxed, but the eventual winner had an easy time in front and kicked away.
“We were making ground to run into second and the form around that race is pretty good.
“We have drawn a gate where he will be able to balance and finish off.
“He would need to improve to be winning, but he is a sound racehorse.”
Zamzam is currently available at 2016 Ladbrokes Blue Diamond Stakes odds of $26 and he is the most fancied of the Lindsay Park trio from Valliano ($31) and Highland Beat ($101).
