SEPOY, the Blue Diamond’s hottest favourite for 20 years, might yet have a worthy challenger for Saturday’s $1 million race after flying filly Anevay scored a dominant win in the listed Talindert Stakes at Flemington.
Well backed late from $2.60 to start $2.20 favourite, Anevay jumped onto the speed and followed Covered In Class before Nicholas Hall allowed her some rein and she sprinted clear to win by 1¾ lengths from Cash For Matt ($61), who was badly interfered with at the start, with a nose to Covered In Class ($11) in third place.
The Exceed And Excel filly’s trainer, Tim Martin, explained that he was forced to take the slightly unconventional path to the Blue Diamond as she had tied up and her blood count was poor last week before the Prelude at Caulfield.
”As long as she backs up from that and pulls up well and has a good week, then we’ll back up,” Martin said. ”She’s very natural, a fast horse. She’s one of the fastest two-year-olds I’ve had. But I am very concerned about Sepoy.”
The unbeaten Sepoy could be the Blue Diamond’s first odds-on favourite since Raise A Rhythm was beaten out of a place at $1.90 in 1991. Currently ranked a $1.80 chance, the colt has been untroubled to win his three starts, but Anevay was a big mover in betting following her performance. TAB Sportsbet halved her quote into $11 for the group 1 race, but if she is paid up for at final acceptances on Tuesday morning, she is certain to firm again.
Anevay was purchased on Martin’s recommendation for $160,000 at the Sydney Easter sales last year as he knew something of her family. ”I was a big fan of [Todman Stakes winner] Krupt, who is a three-quarter brother and I liked her although she was probably a little small.
”She’s showed good ability from day one and she might even improve on that next week if she comes through the race well.”
Hall said Anevay had impressed him with her professional attitude. ”She was very quick out of the gates and quick to relax and find her rhythm,” he said. ”She’s got to back up, but she’s certainly smart.”
First-starter Rescue Mission ($31) was last to leave the gates and found trouble getting a clear run before flying home for fourth. Hollyweird ($4.20) tired to run ninth.