Trainer Mark Riley labelled Innocent Gamble a superstar after the colt's winning debut in the Blue Diamond Preview at Caulfield.Rival trainer Mathew Ellerton didn't go quite that far with Crystal Lily, winner of the fillies division, but said he had been full of confidence going into the race.By Elvstroem out of Innocent Baby, Innocent Gamble is a full brother to Victoria Derby and Spring Champion Stakes placegetter Viking Legend.He is now one of the top prospects for the $1 million Blue Diamond
Trainer Mark Riley labelled Innocent Gamble a superstar after the colt's winning debut in the Blue Diamond Preview at Caulfield.
Rival trainer Mathew Ellerton didn't go quite that far with Crystal Lily, winner of the fillies division, but said he had been full of confidence going into the race.
By Elvstroem out of Innocent Baby, Innocent Gamble is a full brother to Victoria Derby and Spring Champion Stakes placegetter Viking Legend.
He is now one of the top prospects for the $1 million Blue Diamond Stakes (1200m) at Caulfield on February 20.
"He's a superstar this horse, the best horse I've ever had," Riley said.
"He's still got a lot of improvement in him."
Ridden by Damien Oliver, Innocent Gamble ($5) began well and travelled just behind race leader Marmaa ($14) before forging clear to score by three-quarters of a length from that colt.
Pellizotti ($5.50) ran home well to finish a half-neck away third with Songspur ($3.70 fav) a head back fourth.
Bred by Riley and several partners including Victoria's chief harness racing caller Dan Mielicki and his wife Tanya, the colt was bought back at the Melbourne Premier Yearling Sale by the Mornington trainer for $150,000 and is raced by the whole group.
"Gai (Waterhouse) was the losing bidder unfortunately for her," Riley said.
"The reserve was $160,000 so it was a bit of good luck from our side.
Innocent Gamble had shown plenty of ability with an easy barrier trial win at Sale earlier in the month and in a jumpout at Balnarring.
"Today was his first day out (at the races) and he was having a bit of a look around. That's his biggest problem he's so inquisitive," Riley said.
"He's still immature and he's going to be a better three-year-old but it's very hard to go past a race like the Blue Diamond when you've got a precocious horse like him.
"The horse has never been any trouble. He's just a real professional."
Riley said he would wait and see whether to give the colt another run in the Blue Diamond Prelude (1100m) at Caulfield on February 6 or take him straight into the Group One feature.
Crystal Lily, however, will go straight into the Blue Diamond without another run following her brilliant front running display in the fillies' Preview.
Ridden by Chris Symons, the daughter of Golden Slipper winner Stratum was backed from $8 to $6 before pinging out of the gates and then cruising to a three length victory over Shaaheq ($5.50 equal fav) with Warm Love ($26) 1-1/2 lengths away third.
Mathew Ellerton, who co-trains Crystal Lily with his cousin Simon Zahra for her breeder David Moodie's Contract Racing Syndicate, said the filly had improved vastly since being placed twice at stakes level last spring.
"She was a bit foaly in the spring but she's just grown up. She has a lot of energy and was pretty impressive. I was quite confident about her today," he said.
Crystal Lily gave Symons and connections some anxious moments when she reared up in the barrier.
"She reared right up and it was lucky her back legs didn't slip from underneath her," Symons said.
Crystal Lily ran the 1000 metres in 56.84, which was .66 faster than Innocent Gamble.