Damien Batters ready to unleash Party For Us in the metropolitan ranks

Rising Queensland trainer Damien Batters is hoping to recreate his ‘rags-to-riches’ interstate campaign as he looks to unleash a rookie three-year-old who is a full sister to Blue Diamond star.

Sunshine Coast racing trainer Damien Batters.

Rising Queensland trainer Damien Batters is hoping to recreate his ‘rags-to-riches’ interstate campaign as he looks to unleash a rookie three-year-old who is a full sister to metropolitan star.

In 2023 Batters, a former couch salesman, took his little filly by the name of Party For Two all the way to the Group 1 Blue Diamond after the horse was twice passed in at the sales before landing with Batters on the Sunshine Coast.

In the lead up to their Sandown assault, Party For Two strung together breathtaking wins by 7½ lengths and 2½ lengths before running second in the Group 2 Blue Diamond Prelude.

She then ran 3½ lengths off Little Brose in the Group 1 Blue Diamond before changing hands to be trained by powerful Eagle Farm duo Steve O’Dea and Matt Hoysted in March 2023.

Party For Two is seen before her second-place finish in the Blue Diamond Fillies’ Prelude at Sandown in February last year. Vince Caligiuri / Getty Images

Since then the filly has recorded two wins from her 10 starts but Batters’ has switched his attention to her full sister Party For Us.

“We really like her as she’s not a bad little horse, has plenty of ability and will definitely be more of a three-year-old,” he said.

“We thought she’d be quite similar to her sister but it’s almost a polar opposite which is quite funny.”

Party For Us made her race debut in July over 1100m at Beaudesert.

“She probably wasn’t ready for the races but we wanted to give her a run for educational purposes and see if something clicked,” he said.

“She’s probably not as sharp as her sister but she’s shown she can get over ground and has a really good constitution.

“She finished six lengths off the winner so she’ll have a few months off now, we’ll let her grow and strengthen before bringing her back.”

Queensland apprentice jockey Brodie Moffat (right) and Sunshine Coast trainer Damien Batters. Picture: Racing Queensland

Batters was also excited to see the improvement from his young apprentice Brodie Moffat.

The 23-year-old has recorded 20 wins and 21 placings from his 156 country starts this season.

“He’s started working with Damien Browne at Caloundra and is learning some great race day tactics, positioning, style and all those things to make him a bit more polished,” Batters said.

“Browney gives them a totally different look at life in the saddle and really understands where these kids are coming from.

“He’s great at adapting a plan to each apprentices needs so I think you’ll start to see a lot more rising stars come through the ranks here and take that next step.”