Australia: Off sharp debut, The Instructor the danger in Blue Diamond Preview

The Instructor, a flashy winner of his first start in a maiden race earlier this month, will be a strong favorite to win his stakes debut in the Blue Diamond Preview Stakes at Sandown Racecourse in Melbourne, Australia, on Wednesday evening, provided he can beat 10 rivals including two well-regarded first-time starters.

The Instructor, trained by Adrian Bott and Gai Waterhouse, won a five-furlong maiden race by three lengths at Pakenham Racecourse on Jan. 12 as the 9-10 favorite. The Instructor led throughout and ran the final three furlongs in a sharp 34.20 seconds.

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In the Blue Diamond Preview Stakes for 2-year-old Southern Hemisphere colts and geldings at five furlongs, The Instructor faces Fire Follower and Goodes, first-time runners trained by the father and son team of Anthony and Sam Freedman.

Fire Follower is out of the late mare Romneya, a two-time group stakes winner who won her career debut. Goodes is out of the Kentucky-bred mare Apologynotaccepted, who finished second in the Grade 2 Fleur de Lis Handicap at Churchill Downs in 2017.

The colts and geldings division of the Blue Diamond Stakes is one of three stakes worth $140,800 on a Sandown program that begins at 9:20 p.m. Eastern or 6:20 p.m. Pacific. Wagering is available through DRFBets.com.

Aditi, trained by Bott and Waterhouse, will be favored in the Group 3 fillies division of the Blue Diamond Stakes at five furlongs.

Aditi was second in her lone start, the Maribyrnong Trial at five furlongs at Flemington Racecourse on Oct. 1. On Jan. 1, Aditi finished first of seven in a schooling race from the gate at a half-mile at Warwick Farm Racecourse.

Aditi drew the inside in a field of 15 in the Blue Diamond Preview Stakes, which is likely to result in the filly being aggressively ridden in the opening furlong by jockey Jamie Kah.

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The Freedman stable has four runners, including the first-time starter Elderberry. By Bolt d’Oro, Elderberry is out of the five-time winner Essence of Terror.

In the Group 3 Manfred Stakes for 3-year-olds, Jacquinot will have his first start of 2023 after a successful season in the second half of 2022 that included a win in the Group 1 Golden Rose Stakes for 3-year-olds at Rosehill Gardens in September.

Jacquinot was later fifth in the $9.3 million Everest Stakes in October and ninth of 17 in the Group 1 Coolmore Stud Stakes at six furlongs in November against many of Australia’s leading sprinters.

Jacquinot was the 4-5 favorite against 10 rivals in the Manfred Stakes in early betting on Tuesday.

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