KEY POINTS:
Classy filly Sleek Chassis emerged as a serious contender for the Blue Diamond Stakes when she emulated champion stablemate Miss Finland to win the listed Talindert Stakes (1000m) at Moonee Valley yesterday.
Trainer David Hayes said he would have at least four Blue Diamond runners, including Merson Cooper Stakes winner Press The Button, Maribyrnong Trial winner Zizou and Blue Diamond Preview winner Cecconi.
He will decide next week whether Maribyrnong Plate winner Husson Lightning joins them in the field.
Last year Hayes won the Blue Diamond with Nadeem, who beat Miss Finland after her Talindert success.
Hayes said he was confident Sleek Chassis would win although he was concerned that she came in to season yesterday morning which he believes affected her performance.
Jockey Craig Williams said Sleek Chassis was slow to begin after becoming unsettled but he was impressed with the way she finished.
"I decided to come out three deep and press the issue and see how good the others were and see how good she is," Williams said.
Hayes said the win showed Sleek Chassis was adaptable which would be an asset going into a Blue Diamond.
Sleek Chassis is by 1995 Golden Slipper Stakes winner Flying Spur from Tigereye who is a half-sister to 1998 Toorak Hcp winner Marble Halls. Bred by owner Bob Scarborough she has now raced three times for two wins and a second.
Yarra Glen trainer Shane Nichols landed the first group success when Wordsmith scored a strong win in the Group Two The Debonair (1200m) at Moonee Valley.
Nichols is now hoping the Testa Rossa colt can give him his first Group One success in the $A750,000 ($NZ861,670) Australian Guineas (1600m) at Caulfield on March 10.
Wordsmith was having his first start since running third to Sender in the Group Two Sandown Guineas (1600m) on November 18.
Ridden by Steven King, Wordsmith moved up three wide on the home turn to tackle surprise leader and favourite Excites and Starbird.
He raced clear and scored by 1 1/4 lengths from General Albert with Mondano three-quarters of a length away in third.
- AAP
