Key gear changes for Blue Diamond runners

The Anthony Freedman-trained I Am Immortal will wear ear muffs in the Blue Diamond Stakes.

I Am Immortal will wear ear muffs in Victoria’s premier juvenile race at Caulfield as he bids to go through the Blue Diamond series unbeaten.

The Anthony Freedman-trained colt has shown his speed with front-running wins in the Blue Diamond Preview and Prelude for colts and geldings in his first two starts over 1000m and 1100m.

He will have to stretch that brilliance to 1200m for the first time in Saturday’s Group One $1.5 million Blue Diamond.

“We have made a slight gear change leading into Saturday. He’s going to race in the ear muffs,” Freedman’s racing manager Brad Taylor said.

“He does all his work in the ear muffs and never over-races in trackwork or goes too hard.

“So hopefully that will help him on race day just to relax through the middle stages and if he can do that, he’s a big strong colt and I don’t think the 1200 metres will be an issue.

Banner error, could not find casino id "william-hill-sport"

“We’re just trying these things. It’s a pretty important race and if he can snag a Group One as an I Am Invincible two-year-old colt he’s worth a lot of money. So you’ve got to give him every opportunity to do so.”

I Am Immortal is also listed to have a tongue-tie.

The colt is one of two strong chances for the Freedman stable along with Lyre who won the fillies Prelude and has drawn well in barrier five.

“It’s very hard to split either of them,” Taylor said.

“Their work this morning was top notch.”

The Mike Moroney-trained Hawker Hurricane, third to I Am Immortal in the colts and geldings Prelude last start, and former favourite Catch Me, will both wear blinkers while the Lindsay Park-trained Lankan Star has winkers on for the first time.