Morphettville trainer Ryan Balfour is chasing a third successful interstate raid in two weeks when Diamonds steps out at Moonee Valley on Friday night.
Balfour claimed the $175,000 VOBIS Eureka Stockade at Ballarat two weeks ago with Tradewind before Diamonds was successful at Pakenham last Thursday. Balfour will combine with rising star of the saddle Will Price when Diamonds tackles the $50,000 MVRC Handicap over 1200m tomorrow night.
The young gun son of former local hoop Simon, Price has enjoyed a brilliant start to his riding career, racking up 102 winners since debuting at Coleraine last September, and coming off his first metropolitan double at Moonee Valley last weekend.
His talent and valuable three-kilogram claim has been identified by a host of leading stable, with Price booked for seven rides at the Valley and six at Saturday’s Pakenham meeting.
Locally in Adelaide, Balfour has another strong hand at Morphettville led by Li’l Kontra, who returned to her best form winning first-up at Morphettville on the Parks track with Jason Holder in the saddle.
The talented four-year-old, who ran fourth in the Group 1 Coolmore Stud Stakes behind Exceedance last November, has already banked connections more than half a million dollars in prizemoney and is marked a $2.80 favourite with tab.com.au from an inside gate.
Balfour also has one of the day’s most interesting runners in debutant Outlaws Revenge, who heads to the races on the back of two impressive jump-out wins at Morphettville.
Outlaws Revenge is marked a $9.50 chance in the race behind Will Clarken’s Anilla, who is a $1.90 favourite following an impressive six-length Morphettville trial win on Monday.
Another interesting watch at Moonee Valley on Friday night will be the return of Goolagong Rose for the Tony McEvoy stable.
She was scratched from a race in Adelaide last week but had looked very good winning two trials at Morphettville and Murray Bridge. She steps out in a heat of the 955m Challenge from barrier three, with Jamie Kah booked to ride.
IMAGE: Ryan Balfour’s Diamonds winning at Pakenham last month, under Melbourne Cup-winning rider Jye McNeil.