David Hayes believes Mama’s Choice and General Rippa give him two worthy contenders as he tries to extend his Blue Diamond record to six successes in Saturday’s $1 million two-year-old feature at Caulfield.
Hayes likes Mama’s Choice, a daughter of the 1999 winner Redoute’s Choice, who came from last to win the Chairman’s Stakes (1100m) at Caulfield at her debut on February 4 and is at $16 with TAB Sportsbet.
Dwayne Dunn, the equal record holder in the Diamond with Roy Higgins with four wins, will ride Mama’s Choice while Blue Diamond Prelude (1100m) winner General Rippa ($19) will be handled by Steven Arnold.
Hayes also has second emergency Mrs Gray ($51) to be ridden by Luke Nolen if she gains a run.
“She’s got a stride like Miss Finland had. She’s not as big as Miss Finland and she may never be as good,” Hayes said of Mama’s Choice.
“But I think she can run a similar race to Miss Finland and be right in the finish.
Miss Finland ran second to stablemate Nadeem in the 2006 Blue Diamond.
“What I like is she relaxes. She saves her best for race day,” Hayes added.
Hayes also has a good opinion of General Nediym gelding General Rippa.
“I think Mama’s Choice may have the edge on him in the Diamond but long-term I think he’ll be the best,” he said.
“He’s very green and I know how much improvement he has got in him.”
Trainer Danny O’Brien had a warning for the supporters of rival and short-priced favourite Samaready who has this week firmed from $2.40 to $2.10.
The Mick Price-trained More Than Ready filly, unbeaten in two starts, was very impressive in winning the Fillies Prelude (1100m) by 3-1/4 lengths at Caulfield on February 11.
“I do think that two-year-old form can go out the window the first time they go over 1200 metres,” O’Brien, who won the race with Star Witness in 2010 and will saddle up two runners this year, said.
“She (Samaready) was very good the other day. Certainly last year Sepoy was in mine and most people’s opinions deservedly odds-on and deservedly short.
“He was probably a once in a decade two-year-old. I don’t think we’ve got a two-year-old at that level this year anyway.”
In the last decade three favourites have won the race, Bel Esprit ($2 in 2002), Alinghi ($2.10 in 2004) and Sepoy ($1.40 in 2011).
O’Brien will saddle up Maribyrnong Trial Stakes winner Cambiaso ($51) and Hobart Elwick Stakes winner Bush Aviator ($41).
“They are both colts who have earned their spot and they are in good order,” he said.
Price will go to his home track confident he can finally land a Blue Diamond on Saturday after previous disappointments such as 2003 winner Roedean subsequently being disqualified after returning a positive swab.
Roedean’s stablemate Halibery was promoted to second that year while World Peace and Perfectly Ready each finished third in 2004 and 2005 respectively.
Gaelic Princess (2003) and Find the Cash (2004) both finished fourth and last year Holdontoyahorses was fifth to Sepoy.
“She’s a pretty professional racehorse and just needs a traffic-free run,” Price said of Samaready who’ll again be ridden by Craig Newitt.
“She’s spot-on, cherry ripe.”
Price also has fourth emergency Al Aneed ($101) but doesn’t expect the More Than Ready colt to gain what will be his first start in a race.
