Godolphin's Diamond hopes to press claims

Friday 13 February 2015, 12:36pm

The top of the Golden Slipper market is littered with Godolphin two-year-olds but the current pecking order in Blue Diamond betting is a little different.

That could change after Saturday when trainer John O'Shea's leading Blue Diamond hopes press their claims in the respective Preludes at Caulfield.

Godolphin has six in the top 12 in Golden Slipper betting headlined by Furnaces and Ottoman who share the second line at $8.

No Godolphin horse, however, is in the top eight in the TAB's Blue Diamond market but Pursuits and Sampeah round out the top 10 at $17.

Antelucan, who resumes in Saturday's fillies Prelude, is at $21 while Bantam is at $26.

Jason Walsh, racing manager for Godolphin in Australia, recently pinpointed Antelucan and Sampeah as the leading Diamond prospects and Chad Schofield partners them in Saturday's Preludes.

Pursuits, Bantam and Demonstrate will also press their Diamond claims.

Schofield won a Group Three on Antelucan on at Flemington on November 4 while Sampeah impressed the jockey in trackwork on Tuesday.

Schofield is convinced both have the talent to be Blue Diamond contenders.

"They are both very good horses in a strong year. It wouldn't surprise me at all if they stand right up," Schofield said.

Antelucan is at $13 in Saturday's Group Two Prelude for fillies where her rivals include Blue Diamond favourite Fontiton and second favourite Secret Agenda.

"Just about every decent filly heading towards the Diamond is in the race on Saturday," Schofield said.

"Antelucan's going to take a lot of improvement out of the run and if she can run a nice race on Saturday, I'm sure she's a genuine Blue Diamond chance."

Sampeah is at $5.50 alongside Pride Of Dubai while Debutant Stakes winner Of The Brave is the $3.30 favourite for the colts and geldings Group Three Prelude.

"I worked him (Sampeah) on Tuesday and he really impressed me. He's a lovely horse," Schofield said.

"Obviously Mark Riley's horse Of The Brave looks pretty quick and sharp and ready to run but I'm expecting my horse to be very hard to beat."

– AAP

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