Another Diamond in sight for Lindsay Park

Blue Diamond Preview winner Long Leaf is unlikely to run again before the Group One race.

Preview winner Long Leaf is likely to follow the path of another Lindsay Park-trained colt, Reaan, and head to the Group One Blue Diamond Stakes without another run.

Long Leaf pressed his claims as the leading chance from Lindsay Park’s team to add to its rich history in the race with the colt stretching his record to three wins from three starts in Saturday’s Listed colts and gelding’s Blue Diamond Preview at Caulfield.

David Hayes holds the training record for most wins in the Blue Diamond, with Catchy giving him his sixth success in the race last year.

His other wins were with Canonise (1991), Principality (1995), Nadeem (2006), Sleek Chassis (2007) and Reaan (2008), while Catchy’s win was for the new training partnership with his son Ben and nephew Tom Dabernig.

Reaan is the most recent colt to win the Blue Diamond straight from the Preview, while Miracles Of Life won the fillies Preview before she won the Group One finale in 2013.

“We actually think he’ll be better over 1200 metres,” co-trainer Ben Hayes said.

“He’s a real professional and has a great attitude.

“And looking at him, he’s a big, long lanky horse and I think there’s definitely room for improvement as well.”

Long Leaf is by Fastnet Rock out of Frustrating, a half-sister to Group One winning sprinters Terravista and Tiger Tees.

The colt was one of the main movers in Blue Diamond markets on Saturday and is now at $9 on the third line of betting for the February 24 race, behind Sydney debut winner Estijaab ($7) and Saturday’s eye-catching Blue Diamond Fillies Preview third-placegetter Oohood ($8).

Saturday’s juvenile racing in Melbourne at Caulfield will feature the Group Three Chairman’s Stakes (1000m) and the $250,000 Inglis Premier (1200m) while the following Saturday will be the two divisions of the Blue Diamond Preludes over 1100m.