Smart filly Catch Me holds onto favouritism despite drawing an awkward barrier in the 2019 Group 3 $160,000 Ladbrokes Blue Diamond Preview (1000m) for the fillies at Caulfield on Saturday.
Catch Me, above, is the favourite for the 2019 Blue Diamond Preview at Caulfield. Photo by Steve Hart.
The Team Snowden trained Catch Me drew barrier fourteen in the original draw of sixteen plus two emergencies but with four early scratchings the I Am Imvincible filly has moved into gate eleven.
Race eve betting for the Fillies Blue Diamond Preview at Ladbrokes.com.au has Catch Me as the $3.70 favourite ahead of the Lloyd Kennewell trained Jedastar at $4.80 and the favourite’s stablemate Anaheed at $5.
Catch Me was an impressive two and three quarter lengths winner when she debuted in the Group 3 $160,000 Keeneland Gimcrack Stakes (1000m) at Randwick on September 29 and co-trainer Peter Snowden is very happy with the way the filly is shaping up for her return to the race track.
“They don’t win like that unless they are above average,” Snowden told AAP.
“So it was always a thought in our mind from that day on that she would head towards the Diamond.
“She has put on good condition and has got a lot stronger in the shoulders.
“She’s furnished into a beautiful little filly now. She’s not a big filly but she’s very strong.”
Anaheed was also a debut winner in the $125,000 Victory Vein Plate (1000m) at Randwick in October and is shaping up nicely, winning a 900m Pakenham barrier trial on the same day as Catch Me on January 15.
“They both trialled nicely and they’re on track,” Peter Snowden said.
“Anaheed won on debut on a track that was quite wet. She handled it really well so it might have flattered her performance a little bit but in saying that her trials had been good and her work had been good.
“I thought her trial wasn’t far behind Catch Me’s at Pakenham. She won quite well and wasn’t asked to do a lot so I think she’s got above average ability as well.
“They’re two nice fillies and I’m glad I’ve got them and not somebody else.”
Both the Peter and Paul Snowden trained fillies are being aimed towards the Group 1 $1.5m Ladbrokes Blue Diamond Stakes (1200m) at Caulfield on February 23.
Melbourne Cup winning jockey Kerrin McEvoy rides Catch Me while Ben Melham will partner Anaheed who has draw in close at gate two.
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