Diamond test for Magnicity at Flemington

Trainer Robbie Griffiths will test Magnicity at Flemington ahead of a possible Blue Diamond start.

Magnicity will press for a start in the Blue Diamond Stakes when she lines up in a two-year-old stakes race at Flemington.

The Robbie Griffiths-trained filly runs in Saturday’s Talindert Stakes with a top-four finish likely to be enough for connections to pay up for a start in the Blue Diamond at Caulfield seven days later.

Ahead of Saturday, Magnicity sits 31st in the order of entry for Victoria’s richest two-year-old race.

After a two-start spring campaign that included a sixth at Flemington, Magnicity returned to win over 1000m at Moonee Valley on February 1.

“If she can tick off that box running top three or four on Saturday, and recovers well by Tuesday, then we could pay up to run in the Diamond,” Griffiths said.

“This is a rise in grade and it’s a great race with a big field and a lot of chances but she’s had the experience of running down the straight.

“She was great at the Valley as she chased the tearaway leader and did a good job to knuckle down and win.

“So with that experience she’s had at Flemington and the fact she’s in form, winning first-up, she’s certainly in the mix.”

Griffiths also saddles Mr Money Bags in the Hong Kong Jockey Club Trophy with the trainer expecting a better run with his return to Flemington.

Mr Money Bags won at the track in December before running fourth in the Chester Manifold Stakes ahead of a last-start sixth at Caulfield.

Griffiths said Jye McNeil was adamant the tighter confines of Caulfield brought about his downfall last time.

“He’s not productive on corners,” Griffiths said.

“If he was to run poorly he would have run down the track, but in the last 150 metres, when he was balanced up, he started to hit the line.

“From barrier six over the mile back at Flemington he could be a winner and win his way into the All Star Mile.”