James Cummings flexed his Blue Diamond muscle at Sandown on Saturday when jockeys sporting Godolphin’s famous royal blue silks won both $300,000 Blue Diamond Preludes.
Barber lived up to his high billing when he won the colts and geldings edition, while Exploring put up her hand for a start in the $2 million Group 1 on February 25 with an all-the-way win in the fillies division.
Cummings’ Melbourne foreman Sean Keogh conceded after Exploring’s win at $15 in a race that boom filly Charm Stone disappointed that the daughter of Brazen Beau might have demanded a shot at a start in the Diamond.
“The choices are there and on what she’s done today she’ll acquit herself really well,” Keogh said.
“That will be up to James and the team to really cement a decision with only a fortnight away to the big one.”
Exploring, with Craig Williams aboard, turned in a dominant on-pace display to score a one length win over Party For Two ($8.50) with Extreme Threat ($41) three quarters of a length away third.
Charm Stone, who entered Saturday favourite in most Blue Diamond Stakes markets and started $2.15 in the Prelude, appeared to have every chance before labouring into sixth position, almost three lengths from Exploring, in a performance jockey Mark Zahra described as ‘disappointing’.
Exploring covered the 1100 metres in 1:03.49, which was half-a-second faster than what Barber went to win the colts and geldings race 40 minutes earlier.
The Prelude was Barber’s first run since winning the $1 million Golden Gift in November and Keogh said it was an encouraging display given the high standing he held within the Godolphin team and the stage he is at in his preparation.
“He’s been the first seed for the team for quite some time after his first preparation and he carried that pressure from the performances that we’d seen on race days through to this preparation,” Keogh said.
“James and the team felt that they had some improvement in the horse coming into today, although he would be competitive given the standing that the horse has.”
Barber ($4), who was ridden by Jamie Kah, was poised in third spot settling before taking over at the 200m and edging away to defeat the fast-finishing Little Brose ($7.50) by a neck.
The winner’s stablemate Corniche ($14) held on for third, three quarters of a length behind Little Brose, in a tight photo with Perth raider Brave Halo ($2.80 fav) who was tightened for room on numerous occasions.