Storm to ramp up diamond mission

TRAINERS Robbie Griffiths and Matt de Kock will save their Blue Diamond top seed Serasana for a later race but expect Celestial Storm to measure up in the Blue Diamond Fillies’ Preview at Sandown on Thursday.

Serasana rocketed into Blue Diamond Stakes contention when she blitzed her rivals on debut last month, while Celestial Storm finished fifth on debut at Flemington on Oaks Day.

Serasana will tackle the Group 3 Chairman’s Stakes (1000m) at Sandown on February 4, while Celestial Storm is ready to go on Thursday.

“She (Celestial Storm) is a bit more forward at this stage so she will run there and Serasana will run 10 days later,” de Kock said.

De Kock said Celestial Storm had her share of ability but didn’t have much luck on debut in November.

“There’s not much between them,” de Kock said. “They have worked together once or twice but have been well held by their riders because they are very competitive fillies. But they are very similar.”

Celestial Storm had a look at the Sandown track in a jumpout on January 12, narrowly winning a six-horse heat.

The Cranbourne-based de Kock said the Zoustar filly would enjoy racing around a bend at Sandown.

“She will be more comfortable at Sandown with the long run-in,” he said. “She won the trial so she’s quite happy on that track.

“When she ran down the straight, she got squeezed at the start, sat last and ran very good sectionals. She’s a nice filly and she’s matured since then, which is good.”

The stable will also run South African import Catch Twentytwo in the Listed John Dillon Stakes (1400m).

Catch Twentytwo was placed at Group 1 level in South Africa before struggling in three runs in England.

The five-year-old thrilled the camp with his effort in the slowly run Chester Manifold Stakes and is expected to improve on Thursday.