Exploring leads all the way in Group 2 Blue Diamond Prelude
Exploring ridden by Craig Williams returns to the mounting yard after winning Blue Diamond Prelude (F). (Photo by Scott Barbour/Racing Photos)
Craig Williams and James Cummings have combined to give Godolphin both of the Blue Diamond Preludes, with Exploring causing a minor boilover in the Fillies division.
With the aid of a great front running ride from Williams, the two-year-old daughter of Brazen Beau ran out a strong 1100m, recording her second win from three career starts after finishing fourth in the Blue Diamond Preview last start.
Jumping at $14 with online bookmakers, the Godolphin-trained runner proved way too strong for her rivals, leading from start to finish to stake her claim as one of the favoured runners for the Blue Diamond Stakes in two weeks’ time.
The race-favourite and massive market mover in the Blue Diamond Stakes futures market, Charm Stone, was very disappointing with the Mick Price & Michael Kent Jnr-trained filly only managing a sixth-place finish.
2023 Blue Diamond Prelude (Fillies) Replay – Exploring
Sean Keogh from Godolphin returned to the microphone post-race to speak about their filly taking out the second of the Blue Diamond Preludes.
“We seen on debut the wonderful constitution that she had to put herself in the race and close it off well,” Keogh said.
“She was really tough in the Preview, with horses either side of her from the get-go and was hitting the breeze, but Craig (Williams) was happy with how he rode her and so was James (Cummings).
“(We) took her here Tuesday morning and she produced a good piece of work, which filled us with confidence again.”
Keogh was asked what was next for their filly, whether they go to the Blue Diamond Stakes in a couple of weeks or stay at 1100m and go to the Thoroughbred Breeders.
“Yeah absolutely, the choices are there Nigel. What she has done today, she’s acquitted herself really well and that’ll be up to James and the team,” Keogh answered.
Craig Williams may have found himself a Blue Diamond contender with Exploring and he spoke post-race.
“I got to sit on her on Tuesday morning and I was really impressed by the way that she’d worked comparable to her performance the race before and she backed it up today,” Williams said.
“She did all the running and did all the fighting at the end, so full credit to her.”
Exploring is $17 in the 2023 Blue Diamond Stakes futures market with online betting sites.