BLUE Diamond favorite Earthquake will have a trip to the Cranbourne trials late this month as part of his preparation for next month’s $1 million race, reportts Racing Network.
Earthquake, rated a $3.80 favorite for the Diamond with Sportsbet.com.au, arrived in Melbourne on Sunday morning.
Paul Snowden, who runs Darley’s Melbourne operation for his father, Peter, said it was the preference to take Earthquake to Cranbourne for a trial on Thursday January 30. Snowden said the fallback position was to run Earthquake in a jumpout at Flemington a day later, but the “preference is to take her to Cranbourne”.
He said Earthquake, a winner of her only race in impressive fashion at Randwick on November 9, would run in a Blue Diamond Prelude (1100m) at Caulfield on February 8.
“She seemed very dominant in her win and she’s very foolproof,” Snowden said. “She’s adaptable and if she handles this way (Melbourne) of going she should be okay.”
Stablemate Mohave, runner-up behind Law in the Breeders Plate at Randwick on October 5, will run in the Blue Diamond Preview (1000m) at Caulfield on Saturday. Snowden said Mohave had a jumpout at Flemington last Friday and ran well. He said San Diego, who finished 12th behind Polanksi in the Victoria Derby, would kick off his Australian Guineas campaign in February.