Lindsay Park’s leaving it late with Bold Bastille
The Blue Diamond Stakes field will be finalised in less than 24 hours, but Lindsay Park still does not know whether its filly who was one-time favourite will be a part of it.
Bold Bastille’s Blue Diamond fate will be determined via a Tuesday morning track gallop, just a few hours before final acceptances are taken for this Saturday’s $2 million Group 1 Blue Diamond Stakes at Caulfield.
Bold Bastille started a $2.10 favourite in the Group 2 Blue Diamond Prelude (1100m) at Caulfield on February 10 and showed early speed to lead but weakened in the straight to finish sixth, almost three lengths from winner Hayasugi.
A veterinary examination conducted shortly after that 1100-metre event revealed the filly to be lame in the off foreleg.
Ben Hayes, who trains the daughter of Brazen Beau in partnership with his brothers Will and JD, has been happy with Bold Bastille since but will give her a searching workout at Euroa on acceptances morning to see if she is fit to take her place.
“We’re going to gallop her Tuesday and that’s when we’ll make our decision if we’re going to run in the Diamond,” Hayes said.
“We’ve got the option to wait and run her down the straight the week after.
“So we’ve just got to see how she gallops, talk to the owners and then we’ll make a decision.”
The Listed Furphy Trophy (1000m) at Flemington on March 2 looms as the back-up option if she doesn’t run in the Diamond, for which she has blown out to $34.
The $270,000 Inglis Premier Yearling Sale purchase was the initial favourite for the Blue Diamond after a brilliant win in the Inglis Banner (1000m) at The Valley on Cox Plate Day.
Bold Bastille is one of two potential Blue Diamond starters for the Hayes family, who won last year’s edition at Sandown with Little Brose, with Zestiman in line to run.
The Dream Thoroughbreds-owned son of Zoustar won at Flemington at his January 13 debut before finishing fifth, beaten 1-3/4 lengths, in the $2 million Inglis Millennium won by Fully Lit on February 10.
More Racing News
Vein Girl impresses in rich Magic Millions The Debut win
Vein Girl has put herself in contention for next month’s $3 million Magic Millions 2YO Classic with a strong win on debut under lights at the Gold Coast’s first night meeting. The Chris and Corey Munce-trained Vein Girl was sent out the $3.50 favourite with betting sites in Friday night’s $250,000...
Pallaton races into 2025 Golden Slipper contention
Pallaton has stamped himself as a two-year-old colt to watch heading into 2025 with an impressive debut win at Randwick. Trained by Michael Freedman and ridden by Tommy Berry, Pallaton raced to a 2-3/4-length victory in Saturday’s Shinzo @ Coolmore Plate (1000m) and firmed to be among the early favourites in Golden Slipper...
Arriving Home set to target the Magic Millions Guineas 2025
Trainer Bjorn Baker would love to get lightly raced filly Arriving Home into the Magic Millions Guineas next month after the three-year-old remained unbeaten with a tough win at Randwick. Stepping up from a midweek city maiden win at Warwick Farm on debut earlier this month into Saturday’s Petaluma Handicap (1300m) – a...
Goldman digs deep in the Pakenham Cup 2024
One time Melbourne Cup favourite, Goldman has notched up his fourth win in Australia, leading throughout to take the Listed Pakenham Cup (2500m) under Beau Mertens. Jumping an $8.50 chance, Goldman’s staying prowess was on show as he kicked back to deny Grand Pierro ($19) by a long head, with $3.30 betting site...
The Kings horse Gilded Water wins at Randwick
Imported stayer Gilded Water has made it back-to-back victories in Australia and has given his owner, His Majesty King Charles III, a winner at Royal Randwick. The King’s racing manager John Warren was on track at Randwick on Saturday as the Ciaron Maher-trained Gilded Water raced to a convincing victory in the...
Here To Shock gives Lindsay Park quinella in The Supernova
Ben, Will & Jd Hayes had the numbers two and three seed to knock off race-favourite Nadal in Saturday’s $1 million The Supernova (1400m) at Pakenham and did just that, with Here To Shock, ridden by Daniel Stackhouse, edging stablemate Arkansaw Kid in a thrilling stable quinella. Here To Shock ($4.60) trailed a strong...
Kevin Daffy happy to wait with Oh Too Good ahead of VOBIS Gold Bullion
Trainer Kevin Daffy says there is still plenty of time to chase the big league with his lightly-raced mare Oh Too Good. A winner of four of her seven starts with three runner-up finishes as well, Oh Too Hard runs in the VOBIS Gold Bullion (1400m) at Pakenham on Saturday. Daffy was sounded...
Bedggood chases rich The Supernova prize
Two rising nine-year-olds, both resuming, will give Gavin Bedggood a potential shot at his biggest payday as a trainer. A former jockey, Bedggood has been plying his trade as a trainer since 2017 and during the recent Melbourne Spring Carnival prepared Mornington Glory to land his first Group 1 success. Just Folk and Windstorm, both...
Collett hoping for Dream Brisbane raid in BJ McLachlan Stakes and Magic Millions Falvelon
A pair of promising two-year-olds from the Ciaron Maher stable have lured top Sydney hoop Jason Collett to Queensland for back-to-back meetings this weekend. Collett is heading north to partner filly Life After Love in the $250,000 Magic Millions The Debut (1000m) at the Gold Coast on Friday night and her Maher-trained stablemate...
Theodore aims to keep strike-rate going in Christmas Cup at Murray Bridge
Trainer Stephen Theodore is looking to Divine Fire keeping his impressive strike-rate going when she shoots for a winning hat-trick on Saturday. After victories at Morphettville and Gawler, Divine Fire runs in the Christmas Cup (1600m) at Murray Bridge with Jacob Opperman in the saddle. Since returning to training ranks at the start of...
