Trainer Mike Moroney will split two of his Blue Diamond hopes ahead of the rich juvenile race, with Alburq to press his claims in the colts and geldings Preview at Caulfield.
Alburq is set to have his third start in Saturday’s Listed Preview (1000m) while stablemate Hawker Hurricane will wait two weeks and try to cement his Blue Diamond Stakes 2019 claims when he runs in the colts and geldings Prelude (1100m).
Hawker Hurricane won the Ballarat Magic Millions Clockwise Classic in November on debut, chasing down Alburq who finished a close third.
Alburq pressed on to a race at Moonee Valley in late December and finished second to Yes Yes Yes but failed to gain a start as fourth emergency for the $2 million Magic Millions Classic at the Gold Coast earlier this month.
“We tried to get to the Magic Millions with Alburq but he needed four scratchings and he drew barrier 20 as it turned out anyway,” Moroney said.
“So we’ve now changed tack and we’ll have two runners heading towards the Blue Diamond, all going well.
“Alburq will run in the first one and Hawker Hurricane will go to the second one.
“Bishop Rock might also run in the Prelude but he will race at Geelong first.”
Moroney said Alburq was in good order heading into Saturday.
“We’ve always thought he was pretty smart,” Moroney said.
“The other colt beat him but I think that’s pretty good form.
“Hawker Hurricane seems to be coming along well. He and Alburq worked together on Saturday morning and he seems really good.
“They both look nice colts with real talent. They have stayed sound and their shins have been good all the way through which is usually a good sign.”
Alburq has shown speed in his two starts, another reason Moroney is keen to run him in the Preview over 1000m.
Godolphin-owned colt Microphone is the only horse among the 17 nominations for the colts and geldings Preview who has won a race while Alburq is one of six horses with race experience.
The Group Three Fillies Preview (1000m) has six last-start winners among the 35 nominations including the Peter and Paul Snowden-trained pair Catch Me and Anaheed.
