STAR filly Samaready supplied an emotional win for jockey Craig Newitt and trainer Mick Price when she sprinted away with the $1,000,000 Patinack Farm Blue Diamond Stakes at Caulfield today.

As they crossed the line Newitt at first waved his whip and blew a kiss to the crowd then shortly after lifted his head and punched the sky in memory of his father who was tragically killed in a car accident on this day three years ago.

For Price it was redemption after he “won and lost” the 2003 Blue Diamond with Roedean.

Like Samaready Roedean was having only here third race start when she was first over the line in 2003 but the race was later taken off her when she returned a positive swab.

To add insult to injury Roedean never won another race.

There seems little doubt that Samaready will win more races.

She jumped with them at barrier rise and quickly settled into a handy position.

Knowing he was on the best horse in the race and not wanting to get pocketed, Newitt allowed the favourite to stride up four wide on the home and she was always travelling like a winner.

The race proved another rich disappointment for the connecdtions of the Gai Waterhouse runner-up No Looking Back.

No Looking Back ($6.50) was having his first start since being relegated from first after a protest cost him first prize in the Magic Millions at the Gold Coast on January 14.

He settled just worse than midfield and ran home strongly along the rails without ever looking like catching the winner and fell three lengths short but two lengths ahead of Armed For Action ($26) who was always prominent and fought on well.

===========

Caulfield punters endured hot and cold results In the two Group 1 races conducted earlier in the day.

First up New Zealand galloper King Mufhasa ($2.60 fav.) added to his great 1400 metre record when he led throughout to win the $500,000 Cathay Pacific Futurity Stakes.

Allowed to dictate his own terms in front Nash Rawiller held the 7yo gelding together until entering the home straight and he never looked like losing.

Last year’s Cox Plate winner Pinker Pinker ($3.60) was given the run of the race behind the leader but fell 1-1/4 lengths away at the end with Adamantium ($10) running on for third a further 1-3/4 lengths back.

Favourite punters who collected on King Mufhasa would have donated a lot of their winnings straight back in the following race the $400,000 Sportingbet Oakleigh Plate.

Having his Australian start before heading to Dubai star 3yo colt Sepoy ($3.20 fav.) found his 58kg and a stinking hot day too much to handle and faded late for a close up fifth while the heavily backed  Bel Sprinter ($3.30) settled midfield and never got a clear run at the leaders in running sixth, only a length and a half behind the winner.

The  race was taken out by Queensland sprinter Woorim ($21) who came from last with about 200 metres to run to edge out Elite Falls ($51) by a short half head with a half head to Facile Tigre ($26) in the minor placing.

IT would be fair to say that on paper Samaready looks a good thing in Saturday’s Blue Diamond but there some facts and figures that suggest the hot favourite won’t have it all her own way.

After two brilliant wins from as many starts Samaready has remained at short odds since the field was declared on Tuesday although she has drifted slightly from an opening quote of $2.10 to $2.20 with Sportingbet.

But being public elect isn’t such a hot thing with only three favourites saluting since 1994, those being Sepoy last year at $1.40; Alinghi at $2.15 in 2004 and Bel Esprit at $2.00 in 2002.

Samaready also has the curse of the female line where the fillies have barely better than a 1 in 3 strike rate in the race with 15 wins against the boys with 41.

Fillies winning only three of the last 13.

Just the same you must remember that Samaready won’t be reading the formguide or  checking the past results and she will take a whole lot of beating.

She is now the only runner at singlefigure odds with second elect The Travelling Man easing slightly from his opening quote of $9.00 to $10.00.

The only one to shorten slightly in the betting has been the Mat Ellerton & Simon Zahra trained Formidable who chased Samaready home in the Blue Diamond Prelude and she has come in from $17.00 to $15.00.

Being runner-up last start the facts are also against Formidable as 22 of the past 30 winners have come off last start wins, including 12 from the Blue Diamond Preludes.

Top jockey Kerrin McEvoy who finished second in the Blue Diamond C&G Prelude on Rusambo has elected to ride Applegate ($21.00) while Mark Zahra will steer Rusambo ($26.00).

2012 BLUE DIAMOND STAKES – 1200 metres 4.30pm

Create your Sportingbet account now and get on the big race this weekend.

SPORTINGBET

FLYING filly Samaready remains the hot pick for next Saturday’s Blue Diamond after drawing well when the final field was announced today.

Unbeaten in her only two outings Samaready has drawn in barrier eight and will jump from seven if none of the emergencies get a run.

Sportingbet have the daughter of USA sire More Than Ready at a tight quote of just $2.10 for the two-year-old classic on the strength of her fast win in the Blue Diamond Prelude at Caulfield on February 11.

At her only other outing she was an impressive winner at Flemington in December.

After her latest win her jockey Craig Newitt declared her as the best two-year-old he has been associated with.

The only other runner under double figure odds is The Travelling Man who has been rested since he resumed with a smart all-the-way win over 1000 metres at Caulfield on Australia Day.

The Travelling Man is drawn ideally in barrier two and he has the early pace to get a gun run for the 1200 metre dash.

Third pick at $12.00 in the betting is the Tony McEvoy trained colt Jimando but he has drawn the extreme outside stall of 20 and will be starting from barrier 16.

2012 BLUE DIAMOND STAKES – 1200 metres 4.30pm