Miracles Of Life firms in Diamond betting

Saturday 26 January 2013, 4:15pm

Adelaide jockey Lauren Stojakovic likened star Adelaide filly Miracles Of Life to the world champion sprinter Black Caviar after she destroyed a high-class field at Caulfield on Saturday.

"I rode against Black Caviar in Adelaide," Stojakovic said.

"When we went past them out there today it was just the same as when Black Caviar went past me."

Miracles Of Life came to Melbourne with a lofty reputation following runaway wins at her only two starts in Adelaide.

And she more than lived up to it with a 4-1/4 length win in the Blue Diamond Preview (1000m) that gave her a stranglehold on next month's main event.

The Sydney filly Guelph who won impressively at Warwick Farm earlier in the day, demoted Miracles Of Life from the head of Blue Diamond Stakes betting.

But the stunning Preview victory propelled her straight back to favouritism at $3.

Guelph and Thermal Current, who finished a luckless third to stablemate Dissident in Saturday's colts and gelding Preview, are on the second line at $11.

For Stojakovic and trainer Daniel Clarken the win ended a week of self-doubt and fear.

It also began a month of wondering for the 29-year-old jockey who has been through several ordeals attempting to make her name in racing.

Clarken said he would "like to think" Stojakovic will keep the ride in the Blue Diamond.

"But in the end it's a million-dollar race," Clarken said.

The decision on whether Stojakovic keeps the ride will be made after talks with Miracles Of Life's owner Muzaffar Yaseen, a Sri Lankan businessman who came to prominence in Australian racing as the owner of the good racehorse and super sire Redoute's Choice.

But for now, Stojakovic is revelling in her association with a horse she says has given her renewed faith in herself and resurrected her career.

"I didn't think I'd get to ride her today," Stojakovic said.

"At first I was really nervous, but as the week went on I calmed down.

"I'm always trying to believe in myself and to know the owner believed in me has helped me to have faith in myself."

Stojakovic spent more than two years out of the saddle after breaking her pelvis in four places in a trackwork accident.

She has also broken a leg and had surgery on both knees, her injuries leading her to temporarily become a veterinary nurse.

Miracles Of Life, the $3.10 favourite, overraced in midfield early in Saturday's race before Stojakovic gave her full rein with 300m to run and she left the best two-year-old field assembled in Melbourne this season in her wake.

Diamond Glow ($13) ran on well for second with Sydney filly Swing Vote ($14) hanging on to third place.

Miracles Of Life will return to Adelaide and Clarken will assess her recovery before paying a $55,000 late entry fee for the Blue Diamond.

– AAP

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