17th Dec 2011
MICK Price believes he has a Blue Diamond filly on his hands in Samaready who made an impressive winning debut at Flemington.
The Caulfield trainer said he was worried the daughter of More Than Ready was a bit soft going into Saturday's Spotless Plate (1000m) and for that reason admitted he didn't tip her to the owners Vinery Syndicate, managed by Peter Orton.
Ridden by Craig Newitt, Samaready ($6.50) hugged the inside rail throughout before scoring by 1-1/4 lengths from Mrs Gray ($8) with Alzora ($31) the same margin away third.
"I thought she might be a bit underdone. I've been away a week in Hong Kong and my staff were telling me she was lying down all day and sleeping," Price said.
"But she's very sound, not shin-sore, and her knees are good.
"I thought she looked a little tubby in the mounting yard and I said to the guys if she was to win today there is a lot of improvement in her.
"She's a genuinely good filly, she has a great temperament and I'm pointing her to the Blue Diamond.
"She has a very bright future. She's a Blue Diamond filly for sure."
Both Price and Newitt commented that the filly had done a good job to win at her first look at Flemington and had done everything right on the day.
Price said Samaready would spend some time on the water treadmill at Rockmount before he gets her ready for the Listed Blue Diamond Preview (1000m) for fillies on January 26 or the Group Three Prelude (1100m) for fillies on February 11, both at Caulfield.
The $1 million Blue Diamond Stakes (1200m) is run at Caulfield on February 25.
Price, who said he had 70 two-year-olds on his books, is yet to win the Blue Diamond with Roedean being first past the post in 2003 but subsequently disqualified after returning a positive swab to lignocaine.
Picture: Samaready ($150,000 2011 Easter, 2f More Than Ready-Samar) as a yearling
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