Knowing the improvement Daumier has taken from his Blue Diamond Preview win has Sam Freedman optimistic ahead of Saturday’s Prelude, but if he needs any additional confidence he can look to the recent record of those races.
The last four colts and geldings Preview winners to have contested the Prelude have won, including General Beau, Hanseatic and I Am Immortal in the past three years.
Long Leaf won the Preview in 2018 and did not contest the Prelude, but Property won both races the year prior.
Daumier earned a shot at joining that honour roll with his Preview win over 1000m on Australia Day, which Freedman said was a bonus of sorts knowing how much better the son of Epaulette would be out to the 1100 metres of the Prelude and the 1200m of the Group 1 Blue Diamond on February 26.
“We didn’t think he was a real 1000-metre horse because he gives the impression he’s going to want six furlongs,” Freedman said.
“It’s a very different dynamic with a lot more speed in this race, you’d imagine, and the Blue Diamond is going to be even diff dynamic again with an even bigger field.
“He’s got to keep improving but we think he has improved going into this.”
I Am Immortal, Hanseatic and General Beau all started favourite in the Prelude but those who think Daumier can emulate them can get $6 with the colt on the fourth line of betting in TAB’s market.
The Godolphin colt is part of a bulky hand across both Preludes for Freedman and his father Anthony, who also have Philosopher ($17) and River Ribble ($31) in the $300,000 Group 3 boys’ event.
Philosopher finished third as a $1.90 favourite in the Preview, but Freedman said he could be ridden slightly differently on Saturday, while River Ribble is being given a shot after a promising debut second placing at Pakenham.
“Philosopher is a speed horse and he might have just gone a little steady on him the other day, so he’ll roll along at a nice tempo I’d think and River Ribble is a nice horse who gets the blinkers on and from the gate we’ll probably just snag him back and ride him quiet,” Freedman said.
The Freedmans also have three runners in the Fillies Preview – No Diggity ($10), Moko ($13) and Satin Love ($41) – on a day that they have Sinawann as $4 favourite for the $750,000 Group 1 C.F. Orr Stakes (1400m).