Diamond now the focus for Prompt Return

January’s $2 million Magic Millions 2YO Classic is off the agenda for Maribyrnong Plate winner Prompt Return.

Danny O’Brien this morning revealed that plans had been scrapped to take the classy colt to the Gold Coast, instead setting their sights on the Blue Diamond series in Melbourne.

The Flemington trainer was satisfied with his second placing to the Gai Waterhouse-trained Carriages in Saturday’s Clockwise Classic at Ballarat, but thinks he is better suited staying in Victoria.

“We didn’t think he was as well suited there at Ballarat on that turning track,” O’Brien said.

“Gai’s horse was obviously just too sharp for him around the corners there and with that in mind, with the Gold Coast also being a tight-turning track we’ve made the decision to bypass the Magic Millions and give him a couple of weeks in the paddock and run him in the Diamond.

“He’s had a busy enough spring already and by not pushing on to early January we can now give him a little bit of a break and have him spot on too run in the Blue Diamond.”

Prompt Return has been one of the early stars of the juvenile season, winning on debut at Bendigo before his dominant two-length Group 1 Maribyrnong Plate (1000m) success.

Although beaten on Saturday, O’Brien was satisfied with the son of Beneteau’s effort and said he had come through the race well.

“He had a tough enough run, obviously he was chasing Gai’s horse for the whole race, and James (Winks, jockey) did comment coming back that he felt like he’d had a tough run,” O’Brien said on Monday morning.

“But he was good as gold here Sunday morning, he’s very bright this morning and he’ll go down to our Barwon Heads property now for the next six to eight weeks and come back to get ready to run in the Prelude and the Diamond.”

The $1 million Group 1 Blue Diamond Stakes (1200m) will be run at Caulfield on Saturday 28 February.

Story by Brad Bishop, to view full Racing.com story click here

Photo by Slickpix, to view Slickpix website click here