Darley trainer Peter Snowden believes that Earthquake still has plenty of improvement in her after the filly scored a dominant win in the Group 3 $150,000 Sportingbet Blue Diamond Prelude (Fillies) (1100m) at Caulfield today.
Earthquake wins the Blue Diamond Prelude with her ears pricked. Photo by Race Horse Photos Australia.
Snowden is sure that Earthquake will take away plenty of experience after wobbling around the Caulfield home turn and will be a much more finely tuned filly when she lines up in the Group 1 $1m Sportingbet Blue Diamond Stakes (1200m) at Caulfield in two weeks time.
“She’s got talent,” Snowden said after the $1.55 favourite scored a runaway win.
“I was a bit surprised she wobbled on the corner. She had her ears pricked and wanted to lay out a bit and surprised me.”
“She has been here about three weeks now, done a lot of work this way. She’s got natural ability and she will take a lot from today’s run. The benefit of being around here will be a big plus in a fortnight.”
New rider Damian Browne didn’t push Earthquake in the early stages when she was little slow ot leave the barriers but he let her slide up into third and then second place approaching the home turn
On the corner Brown moved up outside the leader Eloping and after holding the Exceed And Excel filly together in the early part of the straight, let her explode away from the 200m to score a comfortable two and three quarter lengths.
Eloping ($6.50) held on for a clear cut second with Lumosity ($21) running a handy race to fill third spot.
Snowden was more than pleased with the way Earthquake went to the line and said that she will be spot on on Blue Diamond Day.
“When he gave her a squeeze she kept coming and coming. It’s good because in two weeks time I will know there will be a little bit more left there. She’ll be there.
“That race today has done the job for her. She won’t need any more hard work, She’s a natural athlete, she is clean winded and she will take a lot from that today.”
Earthquake has held her position as the top rated filly heading in the Blue Diamond Stakes in a fortnight.
Brisbane jockey Damian Browne is now in the box seat for the ride in the Blue Diamond Stakes if stable rider Kerrin McEvoy fails to recover from a knee injury that kept him out of the action today.
