A change of plans for two year old Prompt Return will now see the Danny O’Brien trained youngster aimed towards the Group 1 $1m Sportingbet Blue Diamond Stakes (1200m) at Caulfield on February 28.
O’Brien was favouring a start for Prompt Return in the $2m BMW Magic Millions 2yo Classic (1200m) at the Gold Coast in January but changed tact after he was beaten as an odds on favourite in the $200,000 Magic Millions Clockwise Classic (1000m) at Ballarat last Saturday.
Prompt Return with James Winks in the saddle was sent out the $1.75 favourite at Ballarat following his two lengths win in the Group 3 $150,000 racing.com Maribyrnong Plate (1000m) at Flemington on November 8 but O’Brien said he wasn’t suited by the tight turning Ballarat track when second to Carriages.
“We didn’t think he was at his best on that tighter turning track at Ballarat,” O’Brien told Racing Network.
“With the makeup of the Gold Coast course, we are a bit wary of him not being as well suited around the Gold Coast.
“We’ve made the call over the weekend to bypass the Millions, give him a little break and concentrate on the Blue Diamond.”
The Gai Waterhouse trained Carriages handled the tight Ballarat circuit with ease and scooted to an all the way two lengths win for Craig Williams.
“The filly of Gai’s was just too sharp for him around those bends at Ballarat,” O’Brien said.
O’Brien was happy with the effort of Prompt Return who couldn’t match it with the speedy Carriages and will now give the Beneteau colt a short break before preparing him for the Blue Diamond Stakes in February.
Carriages will be aimed towards the Magic Millions 2yo Classic and head to the Gold Coast to try to give Waterhouse her fifth victory in the $2m glamour two year old race after having claimed the winning trophy with Assertive Lad (2000), Excellerator (2001), Dance Hero (2004) and Driefontein (2012).