Trainer Steve Richards declared that only bad luck could beat Rostova after she drew ideally for Saturday's Group One $1 million Blue Diamond Stakes at Caulfield.The Testa Rossa filly came up with barrier six in the 13-horse field which part-owner John Hymet described as "perfect" at Tuesday's draw for Victoria's richest and most prestigious juvenile event."Perfect, that's what we were after. We were hoping for six or seven," he said."Steve has her absolutely spot-on for the race."Richards has s

Trainer Steve Richards declared that only bad luck could beat Rostova after she drew ideally for Saturday's Group One $1 million Blue Diamond Stakes at Caulfield.

The Testa Rossa filly came up with barrier six in the 13-horse field which part-owner John Hymet described as "perfect" at Tuesday's draw for Victoria's richest and most prestigious juvenile event.

"Perfect, that's what we were after. We were hoping for six or seven," he said.

"Steve has her absolutely spot-on for the race."

Richards has said all along that Rostova was "as tough as nails" and he remains very confident that she can go on with the job against the colts and geldings on Saturday.

When asked what could beat her on Saturday he said: "Only bad luck.

"She hasn't been under any real pressure to beat the fillies so far. It will be harder on Saturday against the boys.

"But I'm really happy with her and I wouldn't swap her for anything.

"If she has luck she will take some beating."

Rostova, who is unbeaten in three starts, has been heavily backed around Australia for the Blue Diamond with Eskander's Betstar reporting a bet of $100,000 on the filly at odds of $2.80.

Sportingbet Australia took a bet of $30,000 at $2.90 on Rostova before Tuesday's barrier draw and she now heads their market at $2.65 ahead of unbeaten colt Real Saga at $3.20 with Come Hither next best at $11.

"There's been plenty more at $2.65 since she drew perfectly in barrier six," Sportingbet Australia CEO Michael Sullivan said.

Betstar brought Rostova in to $2.60 favouritism ahead of the John, Michael and Wayne Hawkes-trained Real Saga at $3.30 and the Lee Freedman-trained Come Hither at $11.

Real Saga, who like Rostova is unbeaten in three starts, drew gate 11.

Cara Aspinall, whose father Vince is the manager of the Diceridge Syndicate which is the managing owner of the Tale Of The Cat colt, is the girlfriend of top jockey Michael Rodd who picked up the ride on the Ricky Maund-trained outsider Perikon.

Damien Oliver will again ride Real Saga who won the Blue Diamond Prelude (1100m) for colts and geldings at Caulfield in 0.83s faster time than Steven King's mount Rostova took to win the fillies Prelude on the same day.

Kerrin McEvoy's mount Come Hither will jump from eight.

Dwayne Dunn, who shares the Blue Diamond record with Roy Higgins with four successes, will ride the Freedman-trained Maka Ena who drew barrier 12.

The Exceed And Excel filly is a $34 shot to give Dunn his fifth consecutive Blue Diamond victory after his wins on Undoubtedly in 2005, Nadeem (2006), Sleek Chassis (2007) and Reaan last year.