Hanseatic tightens grip on Blue Diamond Stakes after Prelude win at Caulfield
Anthony Freedman’s hopes of winning a second consecutive Blue Diamond Stakes soared after Hanseatic produced a spectacular finishing burst to win the Blue Diamond Prelude at Caulfield.
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Anthony Freedman tightened his grip on a second consecutive Blue Diamond Stakes after his unbeaten colt Hanseatic produced a spectacular finishing burst in the Blue Diamond Prelude (1100m) at Caulfield.
TAB fixed odds reacted to the win as they firmed the undefeated Hanseatic from $3.50 into $2.50 for the $1.5 million Blue Diamond Stakes on February 22 after he ran down boom Sydney colt Rulership, who looked to have the race in his keeping.
From his inside draw Hanseatic jumped well but his jockey Luke Currie took hold of him and continually eased him away from the fence and he drifted back to third last and he spotted Rulership four lengths on straightening.
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Even with 100 metres to go, Hanseatic ($2.30 fav.) was still a length off Rulership ($2.90) but he managed to grab him on the line and defeat him by a quarter of a length with Rathlin ($17) third.
Assistant trainer Sam Freedman admitted he thought Hanseatic was going to finish an eye-catching second to Rulership but he was able to rely on his brilliant turn of foot.
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“He had to be very good to win from where he was and run down a horse of the quality of Rulership,” Freedman said.
Freedman said Hanseatic could unleash an instant sprint compared to last year’s Blue Diamond winner Lyre and as a result was more brilliant. He said Hanseatic had the ability to get himself out of tricky positions due to his ability to sprint quickly.
Freedman said the other pleasing aspect of the win was to improve Hanseatic’s pre-race behaviour which was 10 times better than his previous start.
Jockey Luke Currie said the win was that of a brilliant colt.
Hanseatic... you're kidding me!
— Racing.com (@Racing) February 8, 2020
That was simply brilliant, he remains unbeaten. @Godolphin pic.twitter.com/HBcGuGEBYU
Rulership’s trainer Peter Snowden said he wasn’t disappointed by the run and was confident his colt could turn the tables in the Blue Diamond Stakes.
“He’s having his second start and his first at Caulfield and he’s beaten a head by the best colt down here. He’ll take benefit and we’ll also ride him a touch quieter.”
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Hanseatic run 1.03.08 min for the 1100m which was slower than Letzebglam’s win in the fillies’ division of the Prelude.
Earlier, co-trainers Natalie Young and Trent Busuttin won the fillies division with Letzbeglam.
A couple of year ago Young and Busuttin decided if they were going to make it in Australia they needed to focus not only on training stayers but also on two-year-olds.
It’s a blowout - the $33 shot Letzbeglam takes out the Group 2 Blue Diamond Prelude (Fillies). @MelbRacingClub @busuttin @blprebble pic.twitter.com/L7huCcu8pi
— Racing.com (@Racing) February 8, 2020
This realignment has led them to having two starters in the Blue Diamond Stakes with filly Letzbeglam joining Tagaloa, who finished fourth behind Hanseatic in the colts prelude.
Young admitted she was taken aback with how Letzbeglam won after sitting three wide outside the leader and then kicking clear for an easy win.
Young said their confidence took a dent when Letzebglam drew the outside barrier 12 as she thought she’d have to settle back in the run. “Brett did the right thing having three deep with cover outside the leader,” she said.
Prebble said Letzbeglam still had a lot to learn and was more of a Thousand Guineas filly than a Blue Diamond but she deserved her chance to win after making it two starts for two wins. Letzbeglam ($31) defeated Muntaseera ($3.30) by 2¼ lengths with Geist ($14) third.
TAB BETTING REVIEW
CAULFIELD
RACE ONE
Ryan’s Fender defied a big betting drift to land the money in The Big Screen Company Handicap (1800 metres). The Matt Cumani-trained runner started the day a $6.50 chance but by the time the race rolled around, $11 was on the table. Fred Kersley Jnr got everything out of the gelding after the pair led for most of the race, fending off the challenge of King Of Leogrance ($6-$4.40) which firmed up late and had a charmed run in the one-one. Toryjoy ($6.50-$8.50) battled on well to finish third after sitting outside the leader. Most of the money here was for Street Sheik ($3) which raced back in the field and couldn’t get into the race.
BETS: Sir Pippin $3,000 x $7,000 e/w @ $5.50/$1.95, Street Sheik $2,000 @ $3.10, $1,000 @ $3.10, $1,500 @ $3 TWICE, King Of Leogrance $1,025 @ $5, $2,000 @ $4.40, $5,000 @ $1.70 PLACE
RACE TWO
How Womantic made it two-from-two for horses that were noted drifters in the market. The Wow Signal filly punched up on the rails and trailed the leader Enfleurage until the home turn, before peeling around its heels and getting the better of proceedings near the post. How Womantic went $2.70 out to $3.80 before starting a $3.70 favourite. She was the most popular runner and held 31 percent of the total investment. Enfleurage ($14-$12) had some specking at eachway odds and ran a great race out in front. The money horse was Aquitaine. Starting the day as an $8.50 shot, she was backed into as low as $5 and started $5.50. Of the others, Southbank ($6) carried a number of decent bets.
BETS: How Womantic $2,000 @ $3.80, $1,500 @ $3.70, $1,000 @ $3.70, $1,100 @ $3.20, $1,500 @ $2.90, Southbank $4,000 @ $5.50, $1,300 @ $5.50, $1,000 e/w @ $5.50/$1.95, Acquitaine $1,000 @ $5, Acting $1,000 e/w @ $8.50/$2.50
RACE THREE
It was an upset in the Blue Diamond Prelude for Fillies (1100 metres) with Letzbeglam saluting at big odds. The Busuttin & Young runner went around at $34 on TAB Fixed Odds and only had light specking at the price. Most of the attention focused on Muntaseera ($2.60-$3.30) and Fresh ($3-$2.80), with the latter receiving such heavy support that it displaced the former at the top of betting. Geist ($15) carried some solid eachway backing.
BETS: Fresh $1,500 @ $3, $3,000 @ $2.80, $2,000 @ $2.80 TWICE, $1,000 @ $2.80 MULTIPLE TIMES, $1,000 @ $2.70, Muntaseera $5,000 @ $3.40, $4,000 @ $3.40, $2,250 @ $3.30, $1,395 @ $3.30, $1,000 @ $3.30, $3,500 @ $2.90, $2,500 @ $2.90, A Beautiful Night $1,000 @ $5.50, $1,000 x $2,500 @ $5.50/$1.80, $2,500 x $3,000 e/w @ $5.50/$1.80
RACE FOUR
Hanseatic was the popular pick with punters in the Blue Diamond Prelude for Colts & Geldings (1100 metres). The Godolphin-owned galloper went around with nearly twice as much money as second pick in the market, Rulership ($3.10-$2.80-$3). Hanseatic jumped a $2.25 favourite and held 43 percent of the total investment.
BETS: Hanseatic $9,000 @ $2.30, $5,000 @ $2.30, $1,400 @ $2.25, Rulership $1,500 @ $3.10, $4,000 @ $3, $1,600 @ $3, $1,000 @ $3 MULTIPLE TIMES, $1,560 @ $2.90, $1,000 @ $2.80
RACE FIVE
Microphone delivered a big blow to TAB when it saluted in the Hyland Race Colours Autumn Stakes (1400 metres). The James Cummings-trained runner gunned down Banquo ($5-$6.50) in the shadows of the post after that horse had chased the speed which was set by Lady Lupino ($12-$18). Microphone had been heavily tried on the day and was $3.20-$2.50 at one point before starting $2.60. TAB had opened up $4 when markets were released on Wednesday. Of the others, Adelaide Ace carried some significant investments and was second most popular outside the winner.
BETS: Microphone $2,000 @ $2.70, $1,000 @ $2.70, $1,500 @ $2.60, $1,000 @ $2.60 MULTIPLE TIMES, $3,000 @ $2.50, Lady Lupino $2,500 e/w @ $18/$3.90
BETS: Adelaide Ace $1,000 @ $4.60, $2,000 x $4,000 e/w @ $4.40/$1.65, $1,500 @ $4.40, $1,200 @ $4.40
RACE SIX
Punters were on top yet again, this time it was Anaheed, which delivered the goods in the Schweppes Rubiton Stakes (1100 metres). The Team Snowden runner was heavily supported sever since the market first opened. At that point, $4.60 was available. Today, she firmed from $3.40-$2.80 before getting back out to $3 at the jump. Tracking the leader Sartorial Splendor ($8-$5.50), jockey Tim Clark then peeled around heels and issued a strong challenge on straightening before racing clear for an impressive win. She was six times as popular as anything else in the race and held a tick over half the market.
BETS: Anaheed $10,000 @ $3, $2,000 @ $3 MULTIPLE TIMES, $1,550 @ $3, $1,500 @ $3, $1,000 @ $3, Admiral’s Joker $1,000 x $3,000 e/w @ $10/$2.80
RACE SEVEN
Miss Siska did the right thing by punters in the Supergardens Ts Carlyon Cup (1600 metres). Despite being forced to sit wide throughout, Miss Siska ($2.80-$2.20) raced away for an impressive win to land a number of big bets. The Grahame Begg-trained runner was heavily tried in this and held more than double the amount of money than the next best backed runner which was runner-up Odeon ($3.30-$3.80).
BETS: Odeon $15,000 @ $3.40, Miss Siska $1,765 @ $2.70, $10,000 @ $2.40, $2,750 @ $2.30, $2,292 @ $2.30, $2,172 @ $2.30, $2,000 @ $2.30, $1,600 @ $2.30
RACE EIGHT
Alabama Express defied the betting drift to land the money in the C.F Orr Stakes (1400 metres). The Michael Moroney-trained three-year-old had been a $9 chance in the morning but got out to $13 at one stage before a late rally saw it start a $12 shot. Sitting just off the leading division and coming three-wide at the 600m, Michael Dee timed his run perfectly on Alabama Express who swept to the lead into the 200m and held off the opposition. Fierce Impact ($9.50-$6.50-$8) raced just off the winner and found the line nicely for second in front of the popular Kings Will Dream ($23-$15). The big move came for Avilius ($8.50-$5) which had opened $13 on Wednesday. Scales Of Justice ($2.9) went around as the most popular runner.
BETS: Alabama Express $1,000 @ $11, Fierce Impact $1,640 @ $6.50, Scales Of Justice $5,500 @ $2.90, $5,000 @ $2.90, $3,000 @ $2.90, $2,200 @ $2.90, $2,000 @ $2.90 MULTIPLE TIMES, $1,200 @ $2.90, $1,000 @ $2.90 MULTIPLE TIMES, $7,000 @ $2.80, $4,000 @ $2.80, $1,000 @ $2.80 TWICE, Avilius $3,400 @ $5.50, $1,000 @ $5.50 TWICE, $1,000 @ $5, Hey Doc $5,000 e/w @ $9/$2.70
RACE NINE
Punters ended the day on top after Sylvia’s Mother arrived in time to claim the Mud House Rose Bellmaine Stakes (1200 metres). Opening the day at $2.90, she drifted out during the day despite the fact she was carrying a number of big bets and going around as one of the most popular runners on the Caulfield card. The drift can be attributed to the support for Bams On Fire, which nearly claimed favouritism off Sylvia’s Mother after firming $4.60-$3.50. She, along with News Girl ($8.50) were the two best tried to beat the fav. Dwayne Dunn managed to barge into the clear on the final bend with the Team Hawkes-trained mare sprinting sharply to nail News Girl, which trailed the leader, right on the line. Invictus Salute ($8-$13) ran on for third in front of Mamzelle Tess.
BETS: Sylvias Mother $3,900 @ $3.40, $10,000 @ $3.10, $8,900 @ $3,$8,000 @ $3, News Girl $1,000 x $4,000 e/w @ $9/$2.70, Bams On Fire $5,000 @ $3.50, Invictus Salute $1,000 @ $13 TWICE
Originally published as Hanseatic tightens grip on Blue Diamond Stakes after Prelude win at Caulfield
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