Exciting filly Earthquake has impressed trainer Peter Snowden with her trackwork heading into the Group 3 Blue Diamond Fillies Prelude (1100m) at Caulfield on Saturday.
Earthquake will have her second race start in the 2014 Blue Diamond Fillies Prelude at Caulfield this weekend. Photo by: Steve Hart
Earthquake raced a bit fresh when she was narrowly beaten by Mick Price-trained More Radiant in a barrier trial over 800 metres at Cranbourne on January 30, but Snowden told Sky Racing HQ this morning that the trial has brought the daughter of Exceed And Excel forward significantly.
“She is taking good improvement from her trial,” Snowden said.
“I didn’t get down to see her work, but Paul said that she was very sharp and it brought her right on.”
Earthquake was partnered by Christian Reith when she won on debut in the Colin Pearce Birthday Plate (1000m) at Royal Randwick on November 9 and will be ridden by Damian Browne in the Blue Diamond Prelude on Saturday after Kerrin McEvoy ruled himself out of riding on Saturday due to a knee injury.
Snowden said he was personally disappointed for the Darley stable jockey, but was happy to give Browne an opportunity on the classy filly and is confident that he will get the job done on Saturday.
“It was disappointing for us as a team and for him,” Snowden said of McEvoy.
“Just to miss out on these horses going early is a disappointment for him, but he is a professional and he knows how good you have to be to be right.
“He has the interest of everyone in mind and he wants to make sure he wants to be right.
“He (Browne) is a great rider and a good guy.
“He did have commitments in Brisbane, but he said that all the guys up there were fine about it and he will come down.”
The 2014 Blue Diamond Prelude field has drawn eleven fillies and Earthquake will have to be at her best to record a win over last-start winners Eloping and Top Sight as well as unseen debutants Mumbai Rock, Royal Ocean and Snitsnbits.
Earthquake is currently a clear favourite in 2014 Blue Diamond Fillies Prelude betting markets, at odds of $1.80, from Blue Diamond Fillies Preview Eloping ($7), Ciaron Maher-trained Top Dolly ($8) and Debutant Stakes placegetter Piacenza ($11).
Snowden is chasing his second straight win in the Blue Diamond Fillies Prelude after taking out the 2013 edition of the race with Guelph.
