The Inside Word

The Age

Friday February 23, 2007

With TONY BOURKE

Sprint double on the cards

THIS could be the year for the same horse to take the famous autumn sprint double - the Oakleigh Plate (1100 metres) and Newmarket Handicap (1200 metres) - for the first time since Schillaci in 1992. Not that there appears to be a Schillaci or Placid Ark, the only other horse to complete the double in the past 20 years, in the Oakleigh Plate but circumstances could be in favour of the feat this year. With the Newmarket to be run at Caulfield, it could make it easier for a track specialist such as Shadoways and another factor is that the Oakleigh Plate winner could end up well treated in the Newmarket when weights are announced next Tuesday because champion sprint mare Miss Andretti is among the entries, even though she is unlikely to start. Miss Andretti is unlikely to have more than 56 kilograms, which means all the lesser sprinters will have to be weighted accordingly.

Nine at the Diamond

CHANNEL Nine's coverage of Blue Diamond day at Caulfield will involve races four, five, six and seven, starting at 2pm. Naturally highlighted by the $1,015,000 Arrowfield Blue Diamond Stakes, Nine also will be showing the group 1 Oakleigh Plate, the clash of Haradasun and Efficient in the Schweppervescence Cup and the St George Stakes. Hosting the coverage will be Simon O'Donnell, assisted tomorrow, among others, by Damien Oliver, who is suspended, and Shane Crawford, an enthusiastic owner. Former champion swimmers Nicole Livingstone and Giaan Rooney are also on Nine's team.

FORM FOCUS

Blue Diamond Stakes

First run 1971. Group 1 for 2Y0. 1200m.

Winners by sex: CG - 22, F - 14. Run at Flemington 1996.

Most successful jockey: (4 wins) Roy Higgins (Tolerance 1971, Lord Dudley 1975, Blazing Saddles 1977, Star Shower 1979).

Most successful trainers: (3 wins) Angus Armanasco (Tolerance 1971, Forina 1974, Zeditave 1988), Colin Hayes (Out Of Danger 1976, Midnight Fever 1987, Mahaasin 1990), Tommy Smith (John's Hope 1972, Blazing Saddles 1977, Bounding Away 1986), Lee Freedman (Knowledge 1997, Danelagh 1998, Alinghi 2004), David Hayes (Canonise 1991, Principality 1995, Nadeem 2006).

Previous winning trainers involved this year: David Hayes - Zizou, Cecconi, Sleek Chassis, Press The Button, Chinamora; John Hawkes - Deferential, Camarilla (Kusi 2003).

Previous winning jockeys involved this year: Corey Brown - Zizou (Kusi 2000), Greg Childs - Victory Chant (Riva Diva 1992), Dwayne Dunn - Sleek Chassis (Undoubtedly 2005, Nadeem 2006), Steven King - Familial (Hurricane Sky 1994).

Oakleigh Plate

First run 1884. Group 1. 1100m.

At Sandown (1150m) 1996

Past 20 years (winners by age/sex): 4Y+GH - 5, 4Y+M - 4, 3CG - 9, 3F - 2

Past 20 years: Oakleigh Plate winners' record in Newmarket Hcp: 14 starters for two winners (Placid Ark 1987, Schillaci 1992) and four placings.

Previous winning trainers involved this year: Mathew Ellerton - What's The Mail (Miss Kournikova 2001, River Dove 2003).

Previous winning jockeys involved this year: Steven King - Magnus (Drum 1996), Nash Rawiller - Shadoways (Sudurka 2002), Stephen Baster - Straight Legs (River Dove 2003), Glen Boss - Crepe De Chine (Fastnet Rock 2005).

NUMBERS GAME

King knows the feeling

IT IS 13 years since Steven King piloted Hurricane Sky to the jockey's only Blue Diamond Stakes win, in 1994. That day, the pair scorched over the Caulfield turf in one minute 8.1 seconds, a time not bettered in the race, and while tomorrow's field is unlikely to set a new mark, King can add to his tally on the filly Familial. In the most open Blue Diamond in memory, Familial seems to have huge scope for improvement on her most recent run when a close third to Beauty School and Behind. They ran 0.6 seconds quicker than Cecconi in the other preview that day and trainer Rodney Douglas has since added blinkers to Familial's gear with devastating results. At the Cranbourne trials on February 12, 123 horses competed in 15 800-metre trials and the trial winners included some pretty smart horses including Dance Hero (45.06 seconds), Stickpin (45.41) and La Vie Amour (45.50) but Familial stole the show. Not only did she win her trial by 12 lengths, she clocked 44.88, the quickest time of all the trials. Before her last start (without blinkers and in similar dead conditions), Familial also trialled at Cranbourne, winning in 47.15. Clearly, the gear change has made a big difference. King also has a great chance on Magnus in the Oakleigh Plate.

Contact THE INSIDE WORD: tbourke@theage.com.au

© 2007 The Age

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