Blue Diamond tilt still a possibility for unbeaten South Australian filly La Roux

A race in South Australia is the preferred target, but the Blue Diamond will be hard to resist if unbeaten filly La Roux can dominate her rivals again at Morphettville.

Promising filly La Roux is being primed for the Cinderella Stakes on February 22, but the Stokes stable could pull the trigger on a Blue Diamond assault if the daughter of Zousain dispatches her rivals at Morphettville on Saturday.

La Roux was double nominated for Saturday’s Blue Diamond Prelude for fillies (1100m) at Caulfield and a 2YO Handicap (1050m) at Morphettville, with the Stokes yard opting to keep the talented filly in Adelaide.

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“It was always the favourable option, we threw a nom in the prelude just to have a look at it, you never know what changes throughout the week,” assistant trainer Tommy Stokes said.

“She had almost a week off after that run at Murray Bridge, (we) sent her out to the paddock to keep her fresh enough for these next two runs.

“Obviously it’s not about this next run (Saturday), it’s about the Cinderella or Blue Diamond in a fortnight's time.

“She’s going well, she’s probably lost a little bit of fitness but it shouldn’t be too much of a worry over the 1050m.”

La Roux has produced commanding wins in two career starts to date, winning by over two lengths on debut at Morphettville, before a near three-length win at Murray Bridge last start.

The Cinderella Stakes, ran over 1050m, is the preferred goal for La Roux, but if the filly runs out of her skin on Saturday, a Group 1 tilt at the $2m Blue Diamond Stakes may prove too hard to resist.

“The Cinderella is still definitely the favourable option, but if she happens to give them an absolute towelling on Saturday, the Blue Diamond is definitely an option,” he said.

“We’ve got a young ownership group and it would be a big thrill to have a Group 1 runner with a two-year-old.”

La Roux wins with ease at prohibitive odds at Murray Bridge 👌 pic.twitter.com/0Dk9HGtr8Y

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Stokes has been impressed with the way La Roux has begun her career, and the level of professionalism she has demonstrated early.

“It was good to see her take a sit last start, early days we thought she was quite one dimensional and only had cheap speed, wanting to lead her races,” Stokes said.

“She’s really the real deal, she’s the ultimate professional, although she’s small she’s got such a big stride on her, everyone that rides her says the same thing, ‘it doesn’t feel like a small horse when you’re on top’.

“She’s always going to be a small horse, but I think there’s a bit of development to go next prep and I think you’ll see an even better horse next prep and that will be when she peaks.”

La Roux, will be ridden by Lachlan Neindorf, and is a $1.60 favourite with Sportsbet.

Saturday’s nine-race card at Morphettville is headlined by the Listed Premier’s Plate (2000m), with Victorian raider Beltoro a $3.10 favourite for the feature.

Originally published as Blue Diamond tilt still a possibility for unbeaten South Australian filly La Roux