The process of sorting through prospects for the first juvenile G1 of the Australian season takes an important step forward when Gridelin and Cohesion appear in the Blue Diamond Previews at Caulfield on Tuesday, January 26.
The process of sorting through prospects for the first juvenile G1 of the Australian season takes an important step forward when Gridelin and Cohesion appear in the Blue Diamond Previews at Caulfield on Tuesday, January 26.
For Gridelin (John O'Shea/Glen Boss) the G3 fillies' division of the race poses a formidable task.
The un-raced filly has drawn the outside gate in the 16-runer field that includes some talented opposition.
"The barrier is certainly not ideal, but she is a filly with her share of ability," said assistant trainer Darren Beadman.
"She's shown us a fair bit at home in Sydney and since coming to the Melbourne stable she has gone ahead."
Gridelin, who is a sister to the city winner Demonstrate, made her first public appearance in a trial two weeks ago and impressed with a strong win.
Beadman believes the daughter of New Approach will have benefited a lot from the 800m dash and is satisfied she will acquit herself well in her debut run.
"John (O'Shea) came down from Sydney to assess her trial and he was very happy with her," he said.
Cohesion (John O'Shea/Ben Melham) lines up against a smart field in the Listed colts and geldings division of the Blue Diamond Preview.
But the stable is satisfied the son of Lonhro will perform well.
"He ran a nice race in a strong field at his only run back in October and he's made some progress since then," Beadman said.
"He's grown a bit and he's learned a lot as well."
Cohesion finished fourth to the good colt Capitalist in the Listed Breeders Plate at Randwick in October.
He joined the Melbourne team earlier this month and impressed with a barrier trial win on January 14.
Melbourne's premier two-year-old race, the $1.5 million G1 Blue Diamond Stakes, is run at Caulfield on February 27 with Godolphin's leading contender at this stage the outstanding filly Calliope.
