Sheer Madness gains Blue Diamond start

First emergency Sheer Madness has gained a start in the Group One Blue Diamond Stakes after the scratching of the Clinton McDonald-trained Spoils.

Spoils was withdrawn on Thursday morning.

Sheer Madness is trained by John Salanitri who won the Blue Diamond 17 years ago with Road To Success.

Sheer Madness was scratched from a race at Sandown on Wednesday as connections sweated on a start in Saturday’s Diamond for which the gelding is the $101 outsider.

Part-owner Frank Salanitri, who is assistant and racing manager for his brother John, believes Sheer Madness can run well getting ou to 1200m.

Sheer Madness finished fifth over 1000m in the Blue Diamond colts and geldings Preview and ninth in the Prelude over 1100m when he raced without luck.

“,,, I think he’ll give a good sight,” Frank Salanitri said.

“It’s a very competitive race but his two runs have suggested that he’s certainly up to them.”