If fortune had favoured I Am Aria, the filly prepared by Mark Walker might have arrived at the Blue Diamond Stakes without a loss on her record.
However, I Am Aria has secured runner-up and third-place finishes in her pair of preparatory outings, claiming second on debut in the Blue Diamond Preview prior to ending up third in the Blue Diamond Prelude.
Ben Gleeson, assistant to trainer Walker, believes the form from the Preview and Prelude – encompassing both the fillies’ and colts and geldings’ sections – represents the benchmark and positions I Am Aria among the top prospects for Melbourne’s leading Group 1 juvenile event over 1200m at Caulfield this Saturday.
I Am Aria sits at $34 in current wagering, where colts Big Sky ($4.20) and Guest House ($4.50), under the guidance of Mick Price and Michael Kent Jnr, lead the betting.
Gleeson noted that barrier six for I Am Aria – shifting to four should emergencies miss out – is perfect.
“She’s a filly that puts herself in the race and has led up, unfortunately, in two starts without having a backside to follow,” Gleeson said.
“She’s been very gallant in defeat. She’s probably been entitled to drop out, but she’s been there whacking away at the finish.
“If she can find a backside on Saturday, she’s going to appreciate stepping up to 1200 (metres) and hopefully she’s finishing off.”
The Blue Diamond Stakes became I Am Aria’s goal shortly after her short spell following initial training that featured two jump-outs/trials in the spring.
“You probably don’t expect an I Am Invincible filly to get here, especially with the physique she has,” Gleeson said.
“She’s a big, strong three-year-old type of filly and whatever she does now she is going to be better in the spring. She’s has copped the work, she’s very sound and has a fantastic mind.
“She’s always shown us the characteristics that she could get here. To run second and third in the Preview and the Prelude, there’s probably no better form and history probably shows horses that run in those two are the ones that are generally around the mark on final day.
“She’s done nothing wrong, anyway.”
Gleeson described the current group of two-year-olds as balanced, lacking a clear dominant force unlike past seasons with one or two standouts ruling locally.
He mentioned that Melbourne juveniles have travelled interstate with solid results.
“It will probably take until Saturday for a star to emerge,” Gleeson said.
“It’s a nice crop of two-year-olds at the moment, they’re going to Sydney and running well, they’re going to Magic Millions and winning.
“The horses that have been down here are leading the way.
“I think the six or seven from the Previews and the Preludes are the standouts.
“There has been lots of eye-catching runs and a lot will come down to who gets the right run in the race and our filly should certainly get that.”
Craig Williams, pursuing a second Blue Diamond Stakes victory following his 2017 triumph aboard Catchy, picks up the mount on I Am Aria once more this Saturday.
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