Hayes sets out for big Blue Diamond assault

THE revival of David Hayes' stable is set to continue in the next two weeks as the trainer attempts to qualify a swag of smart two-year-olds for the $1 million Blue Diamond Stakes and rolls out the first wave of European imports he hopes are bound for spring glory, reports The Age.It says: When third declarations for the Blue Diamond were announced last week, Hayes had 10 of the final 49 hopefuls in his bid for a fourth win in the race in eight years. One of those, last Friday night's impressive

THE revival of David Hayes' stable is set to continue in the next two weeks as the trainer attempts to qualify a swag of smart two-year-olds for the $1 million Blue Diamond Stakes and rolls out the first wave of European imports he hopes are bound for spring glory, reports The Age.

It says: When third declarations for the Blue Diamond were announced last week, Hayes had 10 of the final 49 hopefuls in his bid for a fourth win in the race in eight years.

One of those, last Friday night's impressive debut winner Gregers, seems likely to secure a place in the race along with Mount Zero, but Hayes still has a few aces to play to increase his chances in Victoria's riches two-year-old race.

''It's going to come down to prizemoney and it will be a question of whether a few of mine have enough to get in,'' he said. ''I'd hoped that I Am Titanium could have run a place [on Saturday] to get him closer, but there was a nose by a nose between fourth and second. A couple of others are borderline as well, but we've got a few more to come.''

Saturday's Blue Diamond Preludes at Caulfield offer one of the last opportunities to qualify for the final on February 23, and Hayes will be represented by at least one runner in both of the divisions.

Fastnet Rock colt Fast 'N' Rocking is likely to run after an eye-catching performance behind Dissident in the Blue Diamond Preview, while Encosta De Lago filly Blue Palace returns from a spell after a Yarra Valley trial. Both need to finish in the placings to have any hope of sneaking into the final field for the Blue Diamond.