News

Delago's Lad is reason to smile

31st Jan 2011

Herald Sun - Matt stewart - Monday, 31 January 2011

UPBEAT jockey Chris Symons has a simple philosophy to cope with racing's stinging disappointments.

Symons was replaced by Brett Prebble as rider of Crystal Lily before she won last year's Golden Slipper Stakes.

Symons had previously ridden Crystal Lily when unplaced and unlucky in the Blue Diamond Stakes.

"You've got to have the (strong) mind for it," he said.

"If you think too much about those sort of things, they can eat you up. I look for positives, not negatives and I reckon I've found a positive."

That "positive" is no-nonsense two-year-old Delago's Lad, who is now $8 second favourite for the $1 million Blue Diamond Stakes following his authoritative win in yesterday's Routley's Plate (1000m) at Sandown.

Sepoy defeated Delago's Lad by a length at Flemington last October and is the $4.60 Diamond favourite.

Despite his spot on the second tier of Diamond markets, the John McArdle camp is yet to be convinced Delago's Lad has the class to win the Diamond, nominating the restricted $250,000 Inglis Premier at Mornington on February 16 as a more winnable goal.

McArdle's racing partner, Brett Clayton, said a Diamond start could hinge on Delago's Lad's performance at Mornington.

"To be honest we didn't think he was as good as some of the Diamond horses and it's hard to knock back a restricted race," Clayton said.

"But we thought if he came out and ran well today and won at Mornington that we'd obviously have a go."

Clayton thought a handful of yesterday's spruiked first starters would run Delago's Lad off his feet, but while he settled back, he was never further than six lengths off the leaders.

Symons squeezed through a gap at the 100m and swamped the Peter Moody-trained Soul Mama.

Another Moody runner, Amour Cache, flashed home out wide for third.

Symons said he'd "like to think he can win the Diamond' but added it was difficult to gauge Delago's Lad's class.

"He's a hard horse to get a guide on because he only does what he has to," he said.

Yesterday's plunged favourite Boys On Tour was tardily away and gathered speed to settle just behind the leaders before finishing fifth.