Australia Racing Preview: Blue Diamond Edition for 2/19/2014

This Saturday will see Australia’s premier 2YR old sprinters take to Caulfield racecourse to challenge each other for the $1 Million Sportingbet Blue Diamond Stakes. Given that, unless you are living on another planet and don’t realize that Australia is the home breeding ground when it comes to premier sprinters, it promises to be another amazing race. And what a betting opportunity!

Will the boom filly Earthquake, from one of Australia’s premier stables continue her unbeaten run or will it be the power of the other boom contender Rubick, the son of Encosta de Lago who stakes his claim as a potential stallion.

Cruising is how Gerald Ryan described today's gallop by Rubick ahead of Saturday's Blue Diamond.

Ryan oversaw the gallop on the Caulfield steeple grass where Rubick  worked with a Peter Moody-trained horse over 800 meters. "The horse looks good, he looks terrific in his coat, he has come on and he is bright and well," Ryan said.

"He pulled up really well. By the time he got back to me in the middle (of the track) he would not have blown a feather over. "He worked really well."

Ryan said he would like Rubick to draw seven or eight when the barrier draw is conducted tomorrow.

He noted it gives the horse the chance to dictate terms without having to work overtime early from an inside draw to maintain his position.

Earthquake, a daughter of Exceed And Excel, has simply been too good for her rivals at her two starts. She ran record time at Randwick on debut, which has since been broken by Blue Diamond rival Rubick. Then she appeared to be in cruise-control scoring by 2¾ lengths from Eloping in the Blue Diamond Prelude for fillies for Damian Browne, who retains the ride on Saturday.

The unbeaten Earthquake will be joined by Mohave in the Blue Diamond; both have ticked the right boxes since their runs in the Preludes.

Snowden is just hoping for a good draw in the Blue Diamond.

"We have done all we can control,'' Snowden said. ''We can't control barriers.