Champion jockey Damien Oliver remains cautious about Real Saga's chances of beating Rostova in the Blue Diamond Stakes despite the colt running nearly a second faster than the filly in their respective Preludes.Rostova had dominated the Blue Diamond market but Real Saga joined her as $2.80 equal favourite with TAB Sportsbet for the $1 million Group One feature on February 24 after they both posted easy wins on Sunday.Oliver said Real Saga and Rostova, who are both unbeaten after three starts, we

Champion jockey Damien Oliver remains cautious about Real Saga's chances of beating Rostova in the Blue Diamond Stakes despite the colt running nearly a second faster than the filly in their respective Preludes.

Rostova had dominated the Blue Diamond market but Real Saga joined her as $2.80 equal favourite with TAB Sportsbet for the $1 million Group One feature on February 24 after they both posted easy wins on Sunday.

Oliver said Real Saga and Rostova, who are both unbeaten after three starts, were the stand-out horses for the Blue Diamond but added it was difficult to rely on the winning times of the 1100m Preludes as the races were run differently.

"There was definitely more pace and pressure in his (Real Saga's) race," Oliver said.

Real Saga thrashed the colts and geldings when he romped away to win by three lengths from Blue Diamond Preview winner Reward For Effort and the much-hyped Starspangledbanner.

His winning time of 1:03.71s was 0.83 seconds quicker than Rostova who is yet to be put under pressure.

She was eased up to beat Oliver's mount Corsaire by two lengths in 1:04.54s.

Oliver, who won the 2004 Blue Diamond on Alinghi, said Rostova seemed to have the measure of the fillies but Real Saga had the potential to test her.

"I think he's got a great chance," Oliver said.

"He was under pressure on the turn but responded really well and the further he went the stronger he got."

Michael, Wayne and John Hawkes jointly train Real Saga whose previous two wins have been in Sydney.

Wayne Hawkes noted that Real Saga stargazed near the line in the Prelude and that he had a lot of improvement left in him.

"He doesn't know much," Hawkes said. "He is still pretty green and does a lot wrong."

Hawkes said Real Saga was impressive as he had to chase down the two breakaway leaders Starspangledbanner and Bombay Sling.

"It was a longer chase home than we would have hoped but when he got there it was pretty much all over," Hawkes said.

He said he was looking forward to Real Saga's showdown with Rostova in the Blue Diamond.

"I hope we draw barrier three and she draws four and let the best horse win," Hawkes said.

John Hawkes said the Blue Diamond-Golden Slipper Stakes double was Real Saga's mission.

"He is a natural two-year-old and hopefully he keeps on improving," John Hawkes said.

Trainer Steve Richards said Rostova was 90 per cent fit on Sunday and would peak on Blue Diamond.Day.