By Mathew Toogood
A debut defeat at the provincials hasn’t dampened trainer Doug Harrison’s enthusiasm about two-year-old Tudor who he hopes can earn a shot at the Group One Blue Diamond Stakes.
Tudor made his debut at Bendigo last month in a 900m maiden but ran into the Peter Morgan and Craig Widdison-trained Eloping who looked smart in leading all the way to win by 2-1/2-lengths in quick time, with Jarklin 2-3/4-lengths away third.
Eloping will take aim as one of the fancied runners in the Blue Diamond Preview for fillies at Caulfield on Saturday, while Tudor is rated a $10 chance in the opening market for the colts and geldings division.
Harrison is hoping the Strategic colt shows enough on Saturday in the 1000m Listed event to earn himself a shot at the Blue Diamond (1200m) next month.
“He (Tudor) has got a great nature for a colt coming along. He just does what he has to do and so far he’s gone along alright,” said the Cranbourne trainer.
“She (Eloping) was probably just a little bit too good for him that day. He drew out a bit and she drew inside and held the rail. He put it to her at about the 150 metre mark and she was probably really wound up for it and he possibly wasn’t. But the form is good.”
Harrison believes Tudor will have taken improvement out of that debut and rates his professionalism as an asset.
“I didn’t really have him revved right up for it, and he’s probably not revved right up for this, too,” Harrison said.
“If he can run a very good race on Saturday, and at least finish in the placings, hopefully he can get into the Diamond.”
Ben Knobel rode Tudor on debut but Harrison has called on his nephew, champion jockey Craig Williams, to partner the colt on Saturday.
“I asked Craig if he would ride him and he came down and had a ride on him on Monday. He gave him a bit of work there and thinks he’s a nice horse,” the trainer said.
The fillies Preview has a field of nine with stakes winner Golconda favourite at $3.80 ahead of Fontein Ruby ($4) and Eloping ($4.40).
Breeders Plate runner-up Mohave was a slight favourite at $4.20 on Wednesday for the colts and geldings division.
© Australian Associated Press Pty Limited (AAP) 2014