Calliope Out To Boost Diamond Prospects

Time/Date - 14.30hrs local time/Saturday, February 13, 2016
Racecourse/Country - Caulfield/Australia
Surface/Distance - Turf/1100m

Few returns to the racetrack will have been more anticipated by Godolphin's Australian stable than that of Calliope who reappears in the G2 Blue Diamond Prelude at Caulfield on Saturday, February 13.

Calliope (John O'Shea/Steven Arnold) captured the imagination when she made her debut last October in the Listed Gimcrack Stakes at Randwick, coming from last after a slow getaway and rounding up her rivals to win clearly and establish herself as the benchmark among Australia's two-year-old fillies.

Even though she hasn't started since that initial win, Calliope's standing hasn't been challenged and she is regarded as one of the top prospects in the G1 Blue Diamond Stakes on February 27.

"She showed very good ability at Randwick and she's had a good rest since then," said her trainer John O'Shea.

Calliope has trialled at Flemington since coming to Melbourne, satisfying O'Shea with her fitness.

"I've booked Steven Arnold to ride her because he'll help her," he said.

"She's a flighty filly who has a few things she needs to execute better and Steven will educate her."

The stable's No.1 rider James McDonald described Calliope as "exceptional" after her Randwick win, declaring the filly "capable of anything".

As impressive as she was in her only start, the daughter of Exceed And Excel faces strong opposition in the race that is intended to equip her for her immediate target in the Blue Diamond.

Among her strongest rivals are local filly Sword Of Light who is unbeaten in her only two starts and the Flemington winner Concealer.