Blue Diamond prospect on trial at Caulfield

A start in Melbourne’s premier two-year-old race could be the next step for Marsupial after he runs in Saturday’s G3 Blue Diamond Prelude at Caulfield.

Marsupial showed he was a colt of above average ability when he won on debut at Canterbury in January and goes to Caulfield as one of the leading prospects.

“He did a good job to win at his only start and he’s trained on nicely since going to Melbourne,” said trainer John O’Shea.

“He’s had a look at Caulfield this week and seemed to handle it well enough and the draw gives him the chance to take a good position.”

Marsupial has gate five in a race that has consistently been a good guide to the A$1.5m Blue Diamond Stakes with O’Shea saying he would delay a decision on a start in that race until after Saturday.

Also at Caulfield, O’Shea has the progressive colt Peacock engaged in the G3 Autumn Stakes and the ever-reliable Tally in the G3 Carlyon Cup.

The trainer believes Peacock is a colt with good potential who is well-suited under the conditions of Saturday’s race following his fifth to Malaguerra in open WFA class in the G2 Australia Stakes at Moonee Valley.

“He’s dropping back in grade from the Australia Stakes where I thought he ran very well,” O’Shea said.

“Craig (Williams) was very pleased with is run at the Valley and he’s drawn well here.”

Tally resumes after a strong Spring campaign in which he ran some of the best races of his career, including a third to Hartnell in the G1 Turnbull Stakes.

“He’s coming back off a very good Spring campaign and this race looks like a good starting point,” O’Shea said.

The G1 Australian Cup at Flemington next month is Tally’s likely Autumn target.