High Octane is shaping as a serious G1 Blue Diamond Stakes prospect
Melbourne’s premier juvenile contest is squarely in the crosshairs of one of Australia’s most successful partnerships after High Octane led a one-two finish in the AUD200,000 Listed Blue Diamond Prelude (1000m) for China Horse Club/Newgate and partners.
It was an undoubted flexing of equine muscle ahead of next month’s AUD2,000,000 G1 Blue Diamond Stakes for a syndicate that went paralyzingly close to annex the feature a year earlier with the fast-finishing Don Corleone.
High Octane and Holmes A Court, both on debut, couldn’t have been more impressive in their own ways with the duo pulling clear of rivals over the closing stages to fight out the finish between themselves. In the end it was the highly touted High Octane who was strongest and who bookmakers immediately installed as the new Blue Diamond Stakes favourite.
“They both went terrific, there’s not a lot between them in their work at home. I thought there’d be a bit more in the finish of a race, but both colts ran exceptionally well,” said co-trainer Peter Snowden said.
“[High Octane] will improve a lot, he only had the one trial coming into this. He got lost a fair way out, wobbling around that corner, but he showed his class late – he’s a talented horse and no doubt he’ll take good benefit from that run.
“Holmes A Court got a little bit jumpy when we were putting the saddle on, but he was good in the mounting yard. The other horse is absolutely bombproof, he’s a real professional.”
China Horse Club already has six juvenile G1s on its mantle over the last nine years, five in partnership with Newgate and co. The syndicate’s focus on elite colts capable of being tested ahead of Australia’s most commercial two-year-old races has been central to the creation of a parade of promising stallions.
Star jockey Mark Zahra was effusive in his praise of High Octane after stepping off the colt.
“He’s a beautiful horse to ride, obviously an expensive colt so you’d expect that, but he just cantered around to the gates perfect and stood in there well. He improved heaps from the other day and will improve a heap again after today,” Zahra said.
“In the trial I was back chasing, but with the he improvement in the past 17 days I was able to bounce straight into a spot and he travelled like a winner all the way. He was a little bit wayward when he came off the bridle, but he got it done.”