An already strong Blue Diamond team grew even stronger for trainer Peter Snowden with the win of Metastasio in the Chairman’s Stakes at Caulfield.
Metastasio followed her first-up win at Flemington last month with an equally impressive performance at her second start.
But Snowden believes she will need to find something more at her third in the $1 million Blue Diamond Stakes at Caulfield in three weeks.
“She’s very talented, but she did a few things wrong,” Snowden said.
“She can’t afford to do that when she meets the A-graders in the Diamond.”
Snowden said the filly had wobbled on the home turn and got onto her wrong leg, although jockey Kerrin McEvoy dismissed the slight imperfection suggesting she would improve from her first race around a turn.
That small issue aside, Metastasio’s 2-3/4 length win in the 1100m race nevertheless pleased Snowden, but not enough for him to place her above his top Blue Diamond entry, Guelph.
“Wait till you see her – she’s big and strong and very impressive,” he said.
The wait won’t be a long one with Guelph due to run in next weekend’s Blue Diamond Prelude (1100m).
Metastasio firmed from $17 into the $6.50 second pick for the Blue Diamond following her win.
Miracles Of Life still holds favouritism at $2.80 with Guelph at $7.50.
As she did in her first start, Metastasio ($1.45 fav) easily found the front, skipping away at the 300m to win untouched from Kona Breeze ($9) with Shamus Award ($8.50) a short half-head away third.
As well as Guelph, Snowden has the filly Montsegur in line for the Blue Diamond and the colt Kuroshio.