Catch Me and I Am Immortal sparkle in Blue Diamond trials
Two-year-olds come in all shapes and sizes, and go through their first campaigns with varying degrees of precocity.
But if they are to take high order they need two things – a powerful motor and the temperament to handle the hustle and bustle of a big race day and the hurly burly of a multi-million dollar race where every rival is straining every sinew.
The $1.5 million Blue Diamond, held at Caulfield in late February, is Melbourne's biggest two-year-old race, and the auditions for starring roles began at the same venue on Saturday.
For a particular type of racegoer, contests like the 1000 metre Blue Diamond previews for colts and geldings (listed status) and for fillies (group 3) are amongst the most fascinating races imaginable.
Half the field have never run, so their potential is untapped, although their presence in events like these usually means connections have seen some signs of ability. Those who have seen a racecourse have invariably shown promise, so they can be expected to improve with that experience.
Both types of competitor were on the scoresheet at Caulfield on Saturday when the first starter I Am Immortal, from the Anthony Freedman stable, created a big impression, running a good time to land the colts and geldings heat under Ben Melham.
Forty minutes later it was the turn of the Sydney trained Catch Me, from the Peter and Paul Snowden yard, to shine. She was also good on the clock and defied a difficult passage to make it two wins from two starts in the fillies preview for Kerrin McEvoy.
The two wins were very different in execution, but both staked their claims for Diamond Day in style.
The well-backed I Am Immortal ($3.70) bounced out of the barriers and made all the running for Melham, seeing off the challenge of the Godolphin favourite Microphone ($3.60) with Alburq ($6) third.
Catch Me, as her trainer Peter Snowden said, got no favours in the run.
The $4.20 chance was trapped wide throughout at her first effort the Melbourne way of going but balanced up in the straight to power away and win by a length from long-time leader Jedastar from the Lloyd Kennewell stable with Mick Kent's Shih Tzou third.
Freedman was his usual low-key self as he greeted Melham and his impressive two-year-old, content to wait and see how the $200,000 yearling came out of his debut race.
The Diamond is the plan, but the trainer said he would be happy enough to turn the youngster out if he did not progress satisfactorily from his first run.
"He's just come on the scene in the last few weeks, we haven't really done a lot with him, he's just a naturally gifted sort of horse. He's obviously got good speed, we just need to manage him a bit in the way he races.
"Its difficult to lead all the way and win a Blue Diamond, but he did the job today and he is the sort of horse that maybe can take a sit and, in a big race, that's maybe where he will end up.
"It wouldn't worry me to go a month until the race. We will see how he pulls up.
"If he is feeling his shins I am more than happy to wait, but if he's good he may well go on.''
Snowden was delighted with the Melbourne debut of his winner, who, like I Am Immortal, is also by that hugely successful speed stallion I Am Invincible.
She played up in the mounting yard before going to post, but her trainer said that was very much out of character.
''It was surprising to see her do it, but she got the result. Maybe she's a bit new and a bit fresh.
"She got no favours in the run, she probably had the toughest run of all of them but pulled out plenty, as horses of ability do. She will strip a better fly for that run today."
Snowden will run Catch Me, who won the first two-year-old race of the season in Sydney last spring, at Caulfield again in a fortnight en route to the Diamond.