Speedy Godolphin colt Mesa laid claims for the Group 1 $1m Sportingbet Blue Diamond Stakes (1200m) with an impressive barrier trial win at Sandown today.
Ottoman, above, is one of several Godolphin youngsters trainer John O’Shea is aiming towards the Blue Diamond Stakes at Caulfield. Photo by Steve Hart.
Mesa jumped straight to the front and led all of the way to win the 800m trial by three lengths in the fastest time of the four two year old trials.
Jockey Jamie Mott had Mesa controlling the trial out in front and eased the Lonhro colt down over the concluding stages but was still able to record a slick 46.75 secs for the 800m trip.
Mesa is one of several youngsters trainer John O’Shea is gearing up for the Blue Diamond Stakes which will be run at Caulfield on February 28.
O’Shea hasn’t ruled out sending his two Rosehill juvenile winners Ottoman and Sampeah to Godolphin’s Flemington stables to join Mesa and Melbourne winners Antelucan and Bantam in the lead up to the Melbourne’s premier two year old event.
“Sampeah could possibly be switched to the Blue Diamond at some stage. I’m not committing to the ones currently in Melbourne being the only ones in the Diamond mix,” O’Shea told Racing Network.
“I’m very keen to run well in the Blue Diamond and also because of its proximity to the Slipper.
“With just three weeks between the two races you could come down, run in it and use it as the last run into the Slipper.
“I think that Antelucan, Mesa and Bantam will keep us more than competitive, but if they were found not to be up to the mark or something jumped out of the ground we could quite easily switch them down to Melbourne.
“And that includes Ottoman. They’ve all got to come up, but we’re happy with them so far.”
Mesa was having his first solid public hit out since finishing third at his only start to Thurlow in the Listed $120,000 Santa’s Magical Kingdom Stakes (1000m) at Sandown on November 15.
O’Shea then sent him for a short break and the youngster looks to have to returned in top order.
The Godolphin team had a busy morning at the two year old trials, saddling up seven runners with Exceed And Excel filly Belhamage also recording a win in the final heat of the day.
Belhamage was also quick to find her feet and led all of the way to record a clear cut two lengths win although her winning time of 47.72 was slightly slower than that of Mesa’s.
Godolphin’s other two runners in heat four were Exceed And Excel fillies Overact and Prado Red who finished fourth and seventh.
Earlier in the session Demonstrate, a colt by New Approach, finished second in heat two while Lonhro filly Pursuits and Botricello, a filly by Medaglia D’Oro, finished second and sixth in the third heat.
Mesa is well down the market order for the Blue Diamond Stakes with Ladbrokes.com.au at $41 while Ottoman is the shortest priced of the Godolphin team at $7.50 behind $4.80 favourite Fontiton and $5 chance Secret Agenda.
