Saturday racing news – Mick Price scores Blue Diamond quinella

THEY were the two most talked-about horses going into the race and stablemates Extreme Choice and Flying Artie didn’t disappoint in giving trainer Mick Price a one-two finish in the Blue Diamond Stakes.

Extreme Choice maintained his unbeaten record as he sprinted to a convincing 1-3/4 lengths win under Craig Newitt, who picked up the ride on the favourite when Damien Oliver chose runner-up Flying Artie.

The result gave Price his second Blue Diamond triumph after he and Newitt also combined in 2012 with Samaready.

Price also had Roedean first past the post in 2003 but he lost the race because of a positive swab.

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Extreme Choice ($2.70) made his own luck. He sat wide near the speed and coasted to the front at the home turn.

As he was about to make his winning run, second favourite Flying Artie ($5) was carted wide before finishing gamely.

Zamzam ($26) led in the chasers but was another 4-1/4 lengths away third.

“They are two good colts,” Price said.

“I saw the second horse got speared off at the top of the straight and I thought, ‘poor bugger’. He just had no luck.

“But all credit to Extreme Choice. Today was the day where he had an opportunity to really stand up.

“I think today we got a lot of information about the horse and we’re off to the (Golden) Slipper.

Price said training the Blue Diamond quinella at Caulfield on Saturday would be nearly as good as if he could land the Golden Slipper with either colt.

Newitt is confident Extreme Choice can do it.

“It never felt like he was going to lose,” Newitt said.

While Oliver’s decision to ride Flying Artie didn’t turn out how he would have liked, he said the colt was high-class and a better barrier would make a big difference.

“The horse was still a bit fresh and the bump on the turn didn’t help his cause. I haven’t lost any faith in the horse,” he said.

Rawiller suspended, Bosson and Zahra fined for whip breaches

Brad Rawiller will seek a release from his mounts at Sale on Sunday to retain the Australian Guineas ride on Mahuta.

Rawiller was suspended for eight meetings for his ride on Tuscan Sling in the Mannerism Stakes at Caulfield on Saturday.

If he gains a release, Rawiller’s suspension will start immediately, allowing the jockey to return for next Saturday’s Flemington meeting where he is booked for Mahuta, a $7 chance in the Australian Guineas.

Opie Bosson and Mark Zahra were each fined $500 for whip breaches before the 100m in the Futurity Stakes on Turn Me Loose and Stratum Star respectively.

Big weight can’t stop Flamberge in Oakleigh Plate

Flamberge has created a metric weight-carrying record in taking out the Oakleigh Plate at Caulfield.

Lumping 58kg, Flamberge became the first horse to carry more than 57kg to victory in the time-honoured sprint since metric weights were introduced in 1973.

Ridden by Damian Lane, Flamberge ($31) overcame a wide draw in holding off a fast-finishing Fell Swoop ($14) by a short half-head with the well-supported $3.70 favourite Heatherly three quarters of a length away third.

The win on Saturday was Flamberge’s second group 1 victory having won The Goodwood at Morphettville last May, also from a wide draw.

After scratchings Flamberge jumped from barrier 15, a better result than the widest gate he began from when fifth in the Oakleigh Plate two years ago.

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Racing Victoria chairman David Moodie, whose Contract Racing Syndicate races the gelding, was surprised by the victory.

“I’m struggling to believe it,” Moodie said.

“Sitting four-wide and with 58 (kilograms). To do that under those conditions and circumstances is quite extraordinary.”

Moodie said Flamberge has struggled in weight-for-age company previously and suggested the Newmarket Handicap on March 12 may be the next assignment for the six-year-old.

However trainer Peter Moody suggested The Galaxy at Rosehill on March 19 may be a better option.

“The Galaxy in Sydney could be more suitable and he’s won at Rosehill over 1100 metres before,” Moody said.

Lane said the solid pace set by Heatherly suited Flamberge and he wasn’t concerned when the filly, who had been backed from $4.60 into $3.70, skipped clear on the turn.

“I thought I had her covered but I was wary of one coming off my back,” Lane said.

Glyn Schofield, rider of the runner-up, checked the stewards’ film when he returned to weigh in.

“I thought the winner might have just rolled out on the corner and taken me a little bit wider, but he didn’t,” Schofield said.

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