Cohesion firms into Blue Diamond calculations with dominant win
THE Blue Diamond betting picture became somewhat clearer after the Australia Day races at Caulfield on Tuesday.
The two prelude races featured big fields of hopefuls trying to make their way into the February 27 feature and it was Godolphin’s second-rate colt which led the charge.
John O’Shea had said earlier in the week that Cohesion wasn’t his best Blue Diamond hope, and after a strong win at Caulfield on Tuesday, that bodes well for his main chance Calliope.
Punters caught on to that news as Cohesion drifted from $4.20 to $5.50 with Sportsbet.com.au with Weatherly taking a wealth of money late in the betting.
After Weatherly missed the jump badly from the inside draw, it was Ben Melham aboard Cohesion who took control of the race and the win never looked in doubt as it recorded a 1.25-length victory over the fast finishing Capanello and El Venetian.
“What he lacks in size, he makes up for it in professionalism,” Melham said.
“I was really happy with his professionalism and the way he handled himself. I suppose that’s the benefit of him having one run.
“He’s obviously trialled well and came here in good order and he won like it today.”
Weatherly wouldn’t have lost any admirers with the run as it ran home nicely under a hold from jockey Craig Williams.
“He stepped slowly and lost his back legs on jumping away,” Williams said. “But he ran home well like a very smart horse.”
Weatherly is not currently nominated for the Blue Diamond Stakes, but Sportsbet are still offering $13. Cohesion firmed into $15 after the win.
Decision looms for Sword Of Light connections
It’s a nice headache to have, but Sword Of Light’s owners have until February 23 to decide whether Sword Of Light is entered for the Blue Diamond Stakes after winning the fillies prelude with ease.
Managing owner David Moodie will need to pay a $55,000 late fee for his unbeaten filly, but he’s not stranger to paying late fees. Moodie paid a $150,000 late fee when Crystal Lily won the 2010 Golden Slipper, but the pay day was well worth the risk.
Jockey Damian Lane reported that Sword Of Light ($6.50 at CrownBet.com.au) was well behaved behind the barriers and he believes it has more in store.
“She’s an improving sort of filly and she’s very green so I think there’s a bit more in the tank,” Lane said.
“She’s a flighty filly full stop. She was a bit hesitant in the barriers but she was a lot better in there today, which was our main concern.
“Hopefully she keeps improving and learns to cool her head a little bit.”
Co-trainer Matthew Ellerton is worried about its troublesome manners in the barriers, which caused it to be scratched on New Year’s Day, but the win on Tuesday was encouraging.
“I don’t know how good she is at this stage because she just hasn’t had the exposure to pressure,” Ellerton said.
“She is a spitting image of her mum, she was very hard to handle in the barriers. She wore a barrier blanket and she was hard to do anything with.
“She was chalk and cheese than what was at Flemington so that was pleasing.”
Ellerton said Sword Of Light will likely head to the Group 2 Blue Diamond Prelude at Caulfield on February 6.
Blue Diamond Stakes betting market
Extreme Choice – $4.80
Defcon – $7.50
Calliope – $11 at CrownBet.com.au
Dream First (NN) – $13
Weatherly (NN) – $13
Sword Of Light (NN) – $13
Star Turn – $15
Cohesion – $15
Astern – $17
Hell Of An Effort – $17
Concealer – $17
Manolo Blahniq – $17
Power Trip – $19
Rampage – $21
Mount Panorama – $21
El Venetian – $21
Motown Lil – $21
Thyme For Roses – $26
Sweet Sherry – $26