Free newsletter sign up

Get our latest horse racing news, reviews, exclusives and more direct to your email inbox.
Sign up here

PP Blog

Read our Horse Racing Blog, keeping you up to date with all the latest horse race betting info & horse racing systems.

PP TV

Watch the TVN coverage of today's horse racing and view video replays through BigPond.

PP Radio

Listen to the day's racing through Sky Racing Radio. Plus racing news, previews and horse racing tips.

Hayes ramps up Diamond attack

Thursday 9 February 2012
Robert Windmill

David Hayes could have as many as four Blue Diamond runners should his two Prelude contenders fire at Caulfield.

Hayes confirmed on Thursday that last week's impressive Caulfield debut winner Mama's Choice and Mrs Gray, who was a luckless fifth in last month's Magic Millions, would run in Victoria's premier two-year-old event on February 25.

Hayes' hopes of boosting that number rest with another debutant, TAB Sportsbet's $18 outsider General Rippa in Saturday's colts and geldings Blue Diamond Prelude, and Clearwater Bay ($81), who was a close second at Morphettville at her only run, in the fillies Prelude.

Hayes has trained a record five Diamond winners, including Nadeem (2006), Sleek Chassis (2007) and Reaan (2008) and is warming to his chances of making it six wins this year.

"I am feeling good about it," Hayes said.

"I think she (Mama's Choice) is a good filly and if she draws a barrier she will be very hard to beat," Hayes said.

Mama's Choice is prominent in the Blue Diamond market at $11 while Mrs Gray is $31.

General Rippa and Clearwater Bay are $81 and $101 respectively and they have to prove to Hayes that are worthy of Diamond runs.

"If General Rippa won he would go straight into it," Hayes said.

"He looks pretty good but is very green."

A son of General Nediym, General Rippa will have a lugging bit, which has been standard gear for Hayes' debutants this season to help them run straight, and he will also wear winkers.

"I am not sure he can win but he goes quite well," Hayes said.

He said General Rippa got his chance in the Prelude in a year where the colts seem to be below the fillies.

"The fillies look the best to me," Hayes said.

"The colts don't have the same depth."

Hayes said Stratum filly Clearwater Bay was promising and is keen for her to take the next step.

"She ran well in Adelaide but this a good fillies race on Saturday," Hayes said.

"She has improved since her only run and we will see how she fits in class-wise on Saturday."

Preview winner Malasun ($7) and Samaready ($7.50), who are both trained by Mick Price, are the Blue Diamond favourites but in the fillies Prelude Samaready is $3.70 favourite ahead of Malasun ($5).

The Peter Snowden-trained filly Applegate is $6.50 on Saturday and $10 for the Diamond.