DAMIEN Oliver says Flying Artie would have to do something extraordinary at Caulfield for him to switch from stablemate Extreme Choice for the 1200m Blue Diamond on February 27.
Flying Artie has drawn the outside barrier in a field of 16 for Saturday’s colts and geldings’ division of the 1100m Blue Diamond Prelude.
While Oliver is yet to decide on his tactics, trainer Mick Price has a theory on how the race could unfold.
Price said the five first-starters in the race had drawn from barriers two to 11.
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READ NOW“I think the hot part of that race has drawn from barriers nine and 10 out, so I think those horses will make a bit of a race of it,” he said.
Price said Flying Artie could be in trouble if the inside half of the field jumped cleanly together with the better-performed horses in the outside barriers. “You can’t drag him back,” he said.
He said he had a feeling that Oliver would be loyal to Extreme Choice, who was installed as $2.70 Blue Diamond favourite with TAB after his sizzling win over 1000m at Caulfield last Saturday.
Oliver said he would make his decision after Saturday’s race.
“Extreme Choice has done it under race pressure, so we know how quick and good he is,” the jockey said.
“But we will get a good guide to see where he (Flying Artie) is at against some quality opposition on Saturday, but the barrier makes it a little bit trickier.
“He will have to run really well to warrant getting off Extreme Choice because he has got the score on the board.”
Price isn’t worried about the 1200m of the Blue Diamond for Extreme Choice, who he described as a flying machine.
He said he needed to see him win last Saturday.
“To nearly break 57 seconds was a good job,” Price said.
“Race day tells on all of these horses. If that horse had have run second, I would have been shattered.”
Price said he was happy with a three-week lead-in to the Blue Diamond with Extreme Choice because he believes to win the race, a two- year-old needs to be on the up.
He has suggested to Flying Artie’s owners that Craig Newitt ride the colt in the Blue Diamond if Oliver sticks with Extreme Choice.