Experienced Australian trainer Tony McEvoy has Sharp Diamond on track for a tilt at the $1 million 1200m Ellerslie feature on January 29.
In addition, Sydney filly Te Amo will be on trial for a Karaka Million bid when
she makes her debut at Warwick Farm on Wednesday.Australian horses have punched above their weight in the Karaka Million, with three wins and a second from eight runners.
Sharp Diamond, a Showcasing colt who cost $250,000 at Karaka last January, has been placed in small fields in his two starts in Adelaide, but McEvoy is confident that the horse is better than his form might suggest.
"He should have won both his starts, he was unlucky in both," McEvoy said. "He's a smart horse."
Sharp Diamond ran third of four at Morphettville on debut and then ran second, in a five-horse field, at Morphettville on December 3.
"He missed the start by two lengths at his debut and ran his last 200m in 22.1," McEvoy said. "He was flattened before the turn at his last start, but still got to within about a neck of the winner."
Te Amo, a Not A Single Doubt filly who cost $220,000 at Karaka, ran second in her only trial and Randwick trainer Peter Robl has always had the Karaka Million in mind and he expects her to be competitive on debut.
"She's only had one soft trial, but I'm sure she will measure up," he said.
The entry order for the Karaka Million is headed by the unbeaten filly Gift Of Power, ahead of three other fillies in Talaria, Hasahalo and Melody Belle. – NZ Racing Desk.
