Athiri in sparkling form for Blue Diamond date
THE James Cummingstrained Godolphin juveniles have been on a roll this season and Athiri is poised to deliver the stable victory in Australia’s first Group One two-year-old race of the year, the Blue Diamond Stakes.
Already during 2018/19 Cummings-trained two-yearolds have won 13 races, including Exhilarates in the $2 million Magic Millions Classic at the Gold Coast in January.
Other juvenile winners include Tassort who makes his highly anticipated return in Saturday’s Silver Slipper in Sydney on a path to next month’s $3.5 million Golden Slipper where he is favourite.
Athiri also won on debut in Sydney at the beginning of December before she was targeted at Saturday’s $1.5 million Blue Diamond (1200m) at Caulfield.
“I think it made sense that she wasn’t quite as impressive as Tassort when she debuted, so it was a nice target race as a Group One that she looked capable of having the class to be competitive in,” Cummings said. “And on account of that we spelled her and we geared her up with the Blue Diamond in mind.
“She’s had a good preparation and she arrives here second-up which was our plan.”
Cummings is yet to win a Group One for two-year-olds since joining the Godolphin team as its Australian head trainer in 2017.
Athiri had her second start in the Blue Diamond Prelude (1100m) for fillies two weeks ago and finished third to another Godolphin-owned filly, Lyre, after sitting three wide on the pace.
Cummings described that run as “enormous” and is convinced Athiri has taken benefit from it for the Blue Diamond in which she will begin from the second outside barrier.
Athiri was on the third line of betting at $8.50 on race eve with the Anthony Freedmantrained Lyre, who won the fillies Prelude last start, the $6 favourite.