Should luck have swung I Am Aria’s way, the Mark Walker charge might enter the Blue Diamond Stakes undefeated.
In reality, though, I Am Aria has recorded placings in both lead-up efforts, second on debut via the Blue Diamond Preview and third next out in the Blue Diamond Prelude.
Ben Gleeson, Walker’s assistant, holds firm that the Preview and Prelude form across fillies’ and colts/geldings’ divisions is superior, placing I Am Aria squarely in the mix for Caulfield’s premier 1200m Group 1 for juveniles this Saturday.
Betting has I Am Aria at $34, with Mick Price and Michael Kent Jnr’s colts Big Sky ($4.20) and Guest House ($4.50) favoured.
Her barrier six draw – gate four if emergencies don’t start – is spot-on, per Gleeson.
“She’s a filly that puts herself in the race and has led up, unfortunately, in two starts without having a backside to follow,” Gleeson said.
“She’s been very gallant in defeat. She’s probably been entitled to drop out, but she’s been there whacking away at the finish.
“If she can find a backside on Saturday, she’s going to appreciate stepping up to 1200 (metres) and hopefully she’s finishing off.”
Post-spring jump-outs/trials and a brief break, the Blue Diamond Stakes was earmarked for I Am Aria.
“You probably don’t expect an I Am Invincible filly to get here, especially with the physique she has,” Gleeson said.
“She’s a big, strong three-year-old type of filly and whatever she does now she is going to be better in the spring. She’s has copped the work, she’s very sound and has a fantastic mind.
“She’s always shown us the characteristics that she could get here. To run second and third in the Preview and the Prelude, there’s probably no better form and history probably shows horses that run in those two are the ones that are generally around the mark on final day.
“She’s done nothing wrong, anyway.”
Gleeson views this two-year-old crop as level-pegging, no single horse towering over others as in bygone eras.
Victorian juveniles have shone interstate, he noted.
“It will probably take until Saturday for a star to emerge,” Gleeson said.
“It’s a nice crop of two-year-olds at the moment, they’re going to Sydney and running well, they’re going to Magic Millions and winning.
“The horses that have been down here are leading the way.
“I think the six or seven from the Previews and the Preludes are the standouts.
“There has been lots of eye-catching runs and a lot will come down to who gets the right run in the race and our filly should certainly get that.”
Craig Williams, after winning the Blue Diamond Stakes on Catchy in 2017, retains the ride on I Am Aria for Saturday.
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