Zambales set to sparkle in G1 Blue Diamond Stakes at Caulfield

Co-trainer Sam Freedman believes there are ‘similarities’ between past Blue Diamond winner Daumier and giant colt Zambales as Godolphin targets Saturday’s G1 Blue Diamond Stakes over 1,200m at Caulfield.

Freedman, alongside his father Anthony, prepared Daumier to win the feature Victorian two-year-old race in 2022. While Zambales is a hand taller and around 100kg heavier, the Freedmans are encouraged by comparable demeanours, racing patterns and the addition of blinkers.

“They’ve both got similar demeanour, they are both laidback horses,” Freedman revealed.

“Similar in a sense, the blinkers will go on and hopefully they will get a similar run in transit – middle of the pack somewhere and should be closing off well.”

The Pinatubo colt enters the Blue Diamond after consecutive seconds - first-up at Randwick on 24 January and most recently behind Hard Kick down Flemington’s straight 1,100m. The performance has given the stable confidence heading into Saturday.

“He’s had good week,” Freedman said.

“The winner was obviously very impressive; it’s come back and rated one of the better two-year-old races for the season so far.

“We can take some confidence being so clear of the third horse, they are obviously two very good horses.

“The blinkers go on and he’s drawn a nice middle gate, so he should possie up somewhere behind the speed and we feel he’ll run the trip strongly.

“Hopefully he can put himself in the finish.”

Jamie Mott rides from barrier eight, while Ciaron Maher also saddles Milsons Point for Godolphin. The Blue Point colt, a Pakenham two-year-old handicap winner in December, finished runner-up to Alibaba over 1,000m at Caulfield before impressing in a Cranbourne jump-out.

“Milson’s Point over the 1,000m, he was in a position to get into the race but just didn’t have that turn of foot at 1,000m,” Maher said.

“At six (1,200m), he’ll be completely different, he won’t be too far away.

“Watching the race I thought the Sires’ Produce Stakes 1,400m is going to be ideal, but he’s going to be a different horse at six as well.”

Ben Allen takes the mount from barrier 10.

At Caulfield, G1 performer Pericles resumes in the Futurity Stakes over 1,400m with Craig Williams aboard after two Sydney trials for trainer Bjorn Baker.

Crocodile steps up to 1,800m in the G2 Autumn Classic, with co-trainer Ben Hayes noting the Ghaiyyath three-year-old “needed to lift” to challenge the better fancies.

In Sydney, returning G1 winner Attica headlines Godolphin’s Rosehill runners in the G2 Hobartville Stakes over 1,400m. Despite an awkward barrier and quiet trials, trainer Joe Pride remains confident.

“He can win, I think the price is a reflection of his barrier 10,” Pride said.

“I think the 1,400m at Rosehill, it means we are conceding a start.

“I’m not going to say unnecessarily, but that’s the way Rosehill works.

“You’ve got to make a decision, and I don’t want him driven forward first-up.

“We are going to be in the second half of the field and a lot of punters don’t like backing horses from the second half of the field.

“It’s a first-up run for him but he’s going great guns, I’m really happy with him.”

Adam Hyeronimus again partners the Spring Champion Stakes 2,000m winner, who has impressed Pride.

Attica is scheduled to progress to the Randwick Guineas 1,600m before a decision is made on his autumn path.

“The Guineas is the line in the sand to tell us whether we are going to a Rosehill Guineas, a George Ryder on a way to a Doncaster, or are we on our way to a ATC Derby,” he said.

Bjorn Baker also saddles Green Spaces in the Hobartville, while Euripedes lines up in the G2 Silver Slipper over 1,100m after an impressive Rosehill trial win on 12 February.