David Hayes has included both Call Me Anything and Extra Choice in the 2015 Blue Diamond Prelude (C&G) field, but he is not particularly optimistic about their chances in the Group 3 event at Caulfield on Saturday.
In-form trainer David Hayes has both Call Me Anything and Extra Choice in the 2015 Blue Diamond Prelude field. Photo by: Race Horse Photos Australia
Call Me Anything made his racing debut in the Christmas Season Plate (1000m) at Flemington on December 20 and he tired in the final stages of the race to finish third behind Claudia Jean and Bosnia.
Hayes told Racing Ahead that Call Me Anything has improved substantially coming out of his first-up run, but he believes the Redoute’s Choice colt will need some luck in running to be a winning chance in the Blue Diamond Prelude and will be better suited when he gets over more ground.
“He has improved,” Hayes said.
“He will be better around a bend and he will be better at 1400.
“From that barrier it is going to be very hard, but we will probably ride him patiently and teach him good racing habits.
“If they go too fast, you never know.”
Extra Choice has not been seen at the races, but he impressed onlookers with his performance in a jump out over 800 metres at Flemington last Friday; with the Redoute’s Choice colt working home when he was asked for an extra effort.
Hayes admits that he has set Extra Choice a tough first-up target, but he is hopeful that the two-year-old will show that he is worthy of remaining at Group level this campaign.
“It is a big ask first-up – a Blue Diamond Preview for the first race of your life,” Hayes said.
“I think that he is a horse with good promise and I am looking forward to seeing how he can measure up against the best colts.
“He will probably be midfield.”
The 2015 Blue Diamond Prelude field was released yesterday and Call Me Anything and Extra Choice are set to face stiff competition in the Group 3 event.
The Godolphin-trained duo of Bantam and Sampeah are set to return to the races in the $150,000 event, while bookies rate Mark Riley-trained Of The Brave the horse to beat.
Of The Brave made his racing debut with an imprsssive performance in the Listed Debutant Stakes (1000m) at Caulfield on October 11 and Riley believes that the Blue Diamond Stakes contender is the best horse that he has ever trained.
Extra Choice is currently available at 2015 Blue Diamond Prelude odds of $11, while Call Me Anything is priced at the lengthy quote of $41.
