Sampeah & Bantam Try To Sparkle In Diamond

Time/Date - 17.50hrs local time/Saturday, February 28, 2015
Racecourse/Country - Caulfield/Australia
Surface/Distance - Turf/6f

Two-year-old colts Sampeah and Bantam re-oppose in the six-furlong Group One William Hill Blue Diamond Stakes at Caulfield, Australia, on Saturday, February 28.

They ran at the same course in the Group Three Sportingbet Powered By William Hill Blue Diamond Prelude (colts & geldings) over five and a half furlongs on February 14, when Sampeah finished strongly to take third and Bantam faded to seventh.

Sampeah (John O'Shea/Chad Schofield) quickened well to prevail by a length on his first outing in a Rosehill Gardens conditions race over five and a half furlongs on November 29.

Bantam (John O'Shea/Jamie Mott) posted a nose success in a five-furlong Moonee Valley handicap on November 29, having finished fifth over the same distance on debut in Flemington's Group Three Racing.com Maribyrnong Plate on November 8.

John O'Shea said: "I couldn't be happier with Sampeah. He has drawn slightly awkwardly in 12 but I don't think it is going to pose a problem.

"The race is littered with 1,000-metre horses trying to run 1,200 metres from wide gates so consequently I think the winner of this race will be a horse presenting late down the centre of the track which obviously this colt will be doing.

"We have added blinkers to his gear and he seems to have adapted to them beautifully.

"Bantam has made significant improvement since his first-up run. We have added blinkers to his gear but the main issue for him will be the concentration of speed out wide which will be coming across at a rate of knots.

"If he runs up to his work, there is no reason why he won't produce a more-than-cheeky performance here."

Sampeah and Bantam, drawn three, line up against 13 opponents including unbeaten Group Two winner Fontiton plus Of The Brave and Pride Of Dubai who were first and second in the Blue Diamond Prelude.