Daumier wins Blue Diamond Stakes in photo finish
Anthony & Sam Freedman claimed back-to-back wins in the Blue Diamond Stakes as Daumier clings on from a fast-finishing Revolutionary Miss in the Caulfield feature.
The colt by Epaulette was impressive when winning the Blue Diamond Preview (CG) on debut, before placing third in the Blue Diamond Prelude (CG) at his most recent start, which saw him sent out as a $20 chance in Saturday’s Group 1.
Revolutionary Miss received heavy support late and she hit the line hard under Jamie Kah to run second, while Jacquinot was also brave back in third.
Despite the race favourites closing in, Mark Zahra was able to lift Daumier home in the shadows of the post for a “very special” victory.
“It’s very special. I’ve picked the wrong horse in this race probably for about the last 10 years running and had a choice of a couple in this, so it’s good (to get it right),” Zahra said.
“You put in the work for the Freedman’s, go down there and do a lot of morning work. To work as a team and get a result is very rewarding.
“I came here and I said he’s going alright, but I think we need to find something and we put the blinkers on. His work was really good on Tuesday morning and I was still a bit cautious, I thought he’s definitely got a better hope than he did without them, and I was just able to get to a spot where I was able to get room and to really get at him, which he needs, and he responded.
“Obviously the blinkers helped me travel just off the speed, which has been good today and concentrate a bit more in the straight.”
Daumier gets the job done… JUST 😵
What a win for @FreedmanRacing 🏆 pic.twitter.com/ZYZU5KxdjF
— 7HorseRacing 🐎 (@7horseracing) February 26, 2022
While a win in the Blue Diamond is far from a rarity for the Freedman stable, so-trainer Sam Freedman said it is a huge thrill to win the race for Godolphin.
“Mark Zahra gave him a great ride. To Goldolphin, they’ve supported us with a handful of horses every year and everyone there is a pleasure to deal with, they let us place the horses as we wish,” the young trainer said.
“To the horse’s credit he really knuckled down there late. This colt has shown very good ability from day one and it’s nice to see it come to fruition.
“The preview was a look and see. We probably didn’t think he would win over 1000m, we always thought he would be better over 1200. He won that but he had a good look around late.
“We toyed with the idea of putting winkers on him or something for the prelude. Ultimately we needed to find a couple of lengths today, it was the same story probably with Artorius last year. He worked super in them on Tuesday.
“You’ve got to be right on top of your game and thankfully he was today.”
Daumier firmed into $15 for next month’s Golden Slipper, while Jacquinot ($21) and Revolutionary Miss ($26) also firmed after their runs.
FIND OUT WHAT THE BEATEN JOCKEYS HAD TO SAY:
- 2nd: Revolutionary Miss – Jamie Kah: “Super effort. Just didn’t have as good a run as the winner. Very tough late.
- 3rd: Jacquinot – Damian Lane: “Super run. He’s still got a little bit to learn. Going forward he’s realistically a three-year-old type, but it was a super run today. He jumped a lot better.”
- 4th: Sebonack – Jye McNeil: “Bit further back than anticipated. Didn’t show as much gate speed but he was really good through the line.”
- 5th: Semillion – Damien Oliver: “He ran really well. He flew the start, got across ok. Under a little pressure on the turn but he responded really well and hung in there well.”
- 6th: English Riviera – John Allen: “She’s run well. Might have struggled to run a strongly run 1200, but still ran well.”
- 7th: Merchant Prince – Luke Nolen: “He was good. It was a good Sires’ run.”
- 8th: Counttheheadlights – Ben Allen: “Stepped away slow again and then copped a sandwich and was out the back. Very lazy. He’s wanting 1400 and I think the best thing is sting out of the track.”
- 9th: Waltz On By – Blaike McDougall: “She’s a lovely filly. Just probably come to the end of it. Didn’t have a lot of room late but mentally she’s probably come to the end of her prep.”
- 10th: Miss Roseiano – Jordan Childs: “She ran well. We didn’t have a lot of luck getting caught three deep, but she’s still a bit new to it all and will be a good three-year-old.”
- 11th: Rampant Lion – Kerrin McEvoy: “Nice run. Got a bit lit up beforehand. He’s going to be a better horse next prep.”
- 12th: Kiki Express – Damien Thornton: “Went OK.”
- 13th: Hafey – Craig Williams: “Unfortunately the occasion got the better of him today and wasn’t the same type of horse that he was on debut. It’s experience for them and I know he’s got a lot more ability that what we saw from that performance today.”
- 14th: Seven Sisters – Fred Kersley: “Just couldn’t handle the tempo.”
- 15th: Flashing Steel – Brodie Loy: “A little bit disappointing. Travelled well to the 600 (metres) but probably couldn’t absorb the pressure this early.”