Ennis Hill presses her Blue Diamond Stakes claims
Ennis Hill has lived up to the Lindsay Park stable’s expectations of her in the Group 3 Chairman’s Stakes at Caulfield to stamp her credentials for the $1.5 million Blue Diamond Stakes.
The filly was beaten on debut at Caulfield in December when finishing fourth but she showed what she was capable of in her return from a let-up on Saturday.
With blinkers on for the first time, the two-year-old ($5.50) took the lead early in the 1000m race and never gave her rivals a look-in.
Ennis Hill had 1-1/2 lengths to spare over runner-up Encryption ($3.20) on the line, with another 1-1/4 lengths to Prairie Fire ($19).
“She did what we thought she would do,” co-trainer Ben Hayes said.
“In her first start, she didn’t. It just shows they can get it wrong.
“She just needed the run to come on and the blinkers really did the trick with her.
“She jumped better today and she just never looked like losing.”
Ennis Hill has firmed to $15 for the Group One Blue Diamond (1200m) in three weeks, which is scheduled to be the filly’s next start.
The Lindsay Park training team of David and Ben Hayes and Tom Dabernig won the Chairman’s Stakes with Formality last year, and Ben Hayes said Ennis Hill reminded him of her.
Formality finished third in the race, which was won by stablemate Catchy.
Lindsay Park has a number of two-year-olds in Blue Diamond contention, headed by unbeaten colt Long Leaf, who is the $7 favourite.
Jockey Stephen Baster was impressed by Ennis Hill.
“The 1000 metres suits her because she’s fast but she’s got a lot of quality about her so I don’t see why she’s not going to get 1200 metres,” he said.