Bunbury trainer Simon Foster is adamant Diamond Princess should not be underestimated in the Woodford Reserve Magic Millions WA 3YO Trophy (1200m) at Pinjarra on Saturday.
Neville Parnham’s gun filly Ellicazoom might dominate the TABtouch market, but Foster believes Diamond Princess can pull off an upset victory in the $150,000 feature.
Ellicazoom, racing first-up this campaign, is the $1.55 favourite. Enchanted Dream, a $4.80 chance and Diamond Princess at $8.50, are the only other horses in single figures.
Diamond Princess has not raced since finishing last of nine to Lord Ludlow over 1200m at Ascot last December, but she had no luck in running after racing wide throughout.
It followed her third career victory down the Pinjarra straight in December, when she burst through to hold out High Tea by a long-neck.
Diamond Princess, who cost connections $16,000, warmed up for her return with a Pinjarra trial win over 1000m on January 30.
Former jockey Foster said Diamond Princess, a daughter of Oratorio, was primed to face the biggest test of her 14 start career.
“I’m really happy with her, she has come through the trial and has probably improved on that,” Foster told TABradio’s The Sports Daily.
“It all depends on how you put a line through the form, but she has met Ellicazoom twice and they have beaten each other home once each.
“At her best I really think she is up to it and she has really impressed me over the past two weeks.
“I think I have her going as good as I ever had and based on that I think she is going to be right in it up to her teeth.”
In a field of 11 starters, Diamond Princess has drawn barrier two. In-form jockey, Brad Parnham, chasing his first win in the race after two previous placings, takes the mount.
Meanwhile Ben Pearce is upbeat that Enchanted Dream can handle a step-up in class after impressing with back to back wins at Pinjarra.
The Patronize filly, a $55,000 buy, returned with a vengeance in January when she drew away to defeat Cloak And Dagger (1300m) by 1 ½ lengths.
Ten days later at the same track and venue Enchanted Dream settled back and stormed home to score by 1 ¼ lengths from Patapus (1400m).
Pearce is looking to join his brother, Dan, a dual winner of the Magic Millions 3YO Trophy after he prepared Let It Slip (2016) and Testamezzo (2014).
Ben Pearce said Enchanted Dream is a talented horse who is displaying positive signs.
“Her couple of wins have been good and she is going along nicely with the form around her holding up,” Pearce said on TABradio’s The Sports Daily.
“Ellicazoom is obviously a classy horse and is going to be the one to beat, but I’m happy with Enchanted Dream.
“She has shown us she has got a bit of class and you could put her in a 1200 or put her in a mile and I think she will do the same job.”
Enchanted Dream has drawn barrier eight. Jarrad Noske, who won the race previously with Let It Slip (2016) and Express Service (2013), retains the ride.
RWWA: Julio Santarelli