Palm Angel has a significant margin to make up on My Gladiola following their last meeting in the Blue Diamond Preview, but trainer Jason Warren believes his filly has several factors in her favor this time to close the gap.
The Starspangledbanner filly will complete her lead-up to the $2 million Group 1 Blue Diamond Stakes in Saturday’s $300,000 Group 2 Blue Diamond Fillies Prelude (1100m).
In the 1000m Preview at Sandown, Palm Angel finished fifth, but Warren expects an improved showing at Caulfield—where she won the Merson Cooper Stakes on November 30. A better draw in barrier five, an additional 100m in distance, and competing against My Gladiola at equal weights give him confidence.
“She’s drawn well and she’ll race closer to the speed this start, we just had to ride her conservative from a poor barrier (12) last time,” Warren said.
“Given she wasn’t wound up, we didn’t want her having a gut-buster so she was ridden conservatively.
“My instructions to Ethan (Brown, jockey) were to help her through the dip before he asked her to quicken and the race was already over by the time she started to really motor into it.
“She peaked on her run, she carried 58 kilos and the winner carried 55, so I think at set weights this time it will be a lot different.
“She’s really come on for the run and you’ll see a big improvement this time out.”
Currently the second favorite for the Prelude, Palm Angel will carry 56kg along with the rest of the field. She is priced at $7.50 behind My Gladiola, the $1.95 favorite.
The Rosemont Stud-owned filly has drifted to $26 in Blue Diamond Stakes odds, despite once topping the market. However, Warren always planned for her to improve with each race in the lead-up.
“The bonus of winning the Merson Cooper was we can train her for the Grand Final, we didn’t have to train for any of the prelims, so we’ll have our horse peaking on the day,” he said.