Draw to help I Did It Again relax in Blue Sapphire

Brad Waters - Tuesday October 17

Greg Eurell says a different draw should produce a more favourable scenario for I Did It Again in Wednesday's Group III Blue Sapphire Stakes (1200m) at Caulfield.

Advertisement
I Did It Again (red & white stripes) duels with Bandipur (royal blue) at Caulfield last month. Photo: Darryl Sherer

I Did It Again showed great promise in his debut win at Caulfield in July before little went right for the son of Nicconi when he was narrowly beaten first-up at Caulfield on September 23.

I Did It Again was left without cover from the outside gate while jockey Nikita Beriman dropped her whip in the straight before the three-year-old went down to Bandipur at his last start.

The gelding jumped form barrier nine in a 10-horse field last time out but he will jump from barrier three in Wednesday's $350,000 contest, a gate Eurell said should help I Did It Again settle better than he did first-up.

"If he doesn't draw a gate, he was always going to find it inviting to grab the bridle and roll forward and that's what he did last start and it just made it difficult," Eurell said.

"I'm really happy with the barrier draw and it sort of gives us some opportunity for something to roll forward and he take a sit behind them and see what he can do from there.

"Tomorrow, if he can get that little smother, I'd say that would be ideal.

"He's still pretty keen at the moment. He's not silly by any means but he's just one of those horses that wants to run and he's competitive so he heads into it pretty fresh tomorrow."

Eurell said I Did It Again handled his first-up run well but the Cranbourne trainer and the sprinter's new jockey Damien Oliver agree the 2017 edition of the Blue Sapphire Stakes features a strong field.

"He's a really promising horse, he probably didn't have everything go his way the other day," Oliver said.

"He's shown he is worthy of a crack at a race like that, although it seems to have come up a pretty strong edition this year.''

Sportsbet has I Did It Again as a $5.50 chance in Blue Sapphire betting behind the well-backed Jukebox, who has been supported from $4.80 to join Formality as a $4 equal favourite.

Advertisment
More Reading...
Sires With Winners - Monday August 4
Here is the full list of 26 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.
Nominees Announced for Australian Racehorse of the Year Awards
The nominees for the prestigious 2024/2025 Australian Racehorse of the Year awards have been announced today by Racing Queensland in association with Racing Australia.
Zed 9YO Wins G3 Winter Cup
Saturday’s $110,000 Group Three Winning Edge Presentations Winter Cup (1600m) at Riccarton continued an incredible ride for the connections of Chase (NZ) (Zed), who bought him for only $9,000 from Book 3 of Karaka 2018. Originally a $6,000 purchase by JD Corcoran when offered as a weanling from Valachi Downs in the 2017 National Weanling, Broodmare & Mixed Bloodstock Sale.
Too Darn Hot Mare Claims Third G1
Too Darn Hot (GB) will be a returning superstar to Darley NSW this spring and there is no doubt he can get an exceptional horse with Fallen Angel capturing her third Group I in France on Sunday when taking out the G1 Prix Rothschild (1m) at Deauville.
Te Akau Stars Warm Up at Taupo Trials
Perennial bridesmaid Qali Al Farrasha headlined a strong contingent of trialists out of Mark Walker and Sam Bergerson’s stable at Taupo on Monday.
G1 Guineas Goal for Unbeaten Snitzel Filly
A quartet of well-performed fillies from Stephen Marsh’s stable took their first steps toward upcoming age group features when they stepped out at the Taupo trials on Monday.
G1 Plans for Wexford Stable Mares
Lance O’Sullivan and Andrew Scott have their sights set on the opening Group One of the season with a pair of talented mares, both of which appeared at the Taupo trials on Monday.
One to Watch – Ballarat
Last seen contesting the Group I MRC Blue Diamond Stakes, newly gelded three year-old Olatunde bolted in at Ballarat on Monday continuing the fast start to the new season for his sire Farnan.
Blue Gum Farm Welcome First Foal of the Season
Victorian nursery Blue Gum Farm announced on Monday the arrival of their first foal of the season and there is no mistaking the sire of this gorgeous filly.
Trans Tasman Options for La Crique
Trainers Simon and Katrina Alexander are contemplating options on both sides of the Tasman with their multiple Group One winner La Crique following her pleasing trial at Taupo on Monday.