KEY POINTS:
BRISBANE - Trainer Robert Priscott's biggest fears were realised when Diamond Deck narrowly lost the Sires' Produce Stakes but he's hopeful the filly can make amends with victory in the group one T J Smith Stakes at Eagle Farm today.
Priscott said before the Sires' Produce Stakes, when Diamond Deck went down to the Peter Moody-trained Marked Assassin, he feared his filly wasn't professional enough yet, having raced only twice before the group two feature.
Diamond Deck struck some interference after rounding the home turn but it wasn't enough to warrant a protest from jockey Michael Rodd.
"It was only a bit of inexperience that beat her in the Sires'," Priscott said.
"She got a slight bump just after she straightened which put her off balance slightly and she only went down a half head."
Rodd, who has retained the ride, said after the defeat that Diamond Deck was still learning to go through the gears but would be a different proposition once she stepped up from 1400 to 1600m in the T J Smith.
Priscott has a big spring planned for Diamond Deck, who is set to give the New Zealand trainer his first win at elite level since Hill Of Grace won the group one Ansett Stakes (2000m) at Rosehill, Sydney, in 2000.
He ultimately wants Diamond Deck to be in Melbourne for the spring where her main aim will be the VRC Oaks at Flemington.
Priscott compares Diamond Deck favourably to Hill Of Grace, who was runner-up in the New Zealand Derby (2400m) at Ellerslie in 1999 and the New Zealand Oaks (2400m) at Trentham in 2000.
"Hill Of Grace never started as early as this filly has and she only came on to the scene as a late three-year-old," he said. "I've no doubt Diamond Deck will run a trip and after this race she'll go home to prepare for Melbourne in the spring."
In her three-year-old season, Hill Of Grace also won the group two Moonee Valley Oaks (2040m) in Melbourne in 2000 but failed in the AJC Australian Derby (2400m) and AJC Australian Oaks (2400m) at Randwick following her Ansett Stakes victory that year.
Priscott has gained added confidence Diamond Deck can win the T J Smith on a firmer surface following last week's rain.
Eagle Farm was rated dead yesterday following a mid-morning track inspection and is expected to improve.
* Trainer Ron Maund has given the green light for Gold Edition's return bout with Sniper's Bullet in the Queensland Guineas.
Sniper's Bullet was the only horse to get past the star filly in the Stradbroke Handicap.
While Maund has retained Jim Cassidy for Gold Edition, Bartley was without a rider for Sniper's Bullet.
He was to be ridden by Michael Cahill before he stood down after being kicked by a horse in trackwork.
- AAP
