BLUE DIAMOND ENTRIES SET FOR FRIDAY INSPECTION

Blue Diamond field set to be revetted

The Julius Sandhu trained Lofty Strike and three other two years olds raised concerns after initial veterinary inspections showed a series of issues with the four horses set to line up at Caulfield on Saturday.

Lofty Strike garnered interest for the Blue Diamond after convincingly winning the Group 3 Blue Diamond Prelude two weeks back.

Joining Lofty Strike on the questionable pile was Kiki Express trained by Mathew Ellerton, Sebonack for the Hawkes Racing Team and Rampant Lion for the Peter Moody stable. All four are set to be re-inspected Friday morning to determine whether they are fit to race.

Standard inspections by Racing Victoria’s vets found that Sandhu’s stable star had “presented with lameness in the right front”.

Among the other runners with concerns, Kiki Express (lameness left front), Sebonack (swelling in right fetlock) and Rampant Lion (shifted a plate on left foreleg) all had issues that will need to see them pass another vet's inspection on Friday.

Racing Victoria inspect all runners before they are passed fit to race as per protocol for racehorses to be able to race in the state.

Sandhu trained Lofty Strike had been battling for favouritism in the Blue Diamond at one stage, but currently sits on the third line of betting at $7 alongside Sebonack, behind only Jacquinot ($5) and Revolutionary Miss ($6).

Rampant Lion ($20) and Kiki Express ($51) sit as outsiders of the field. 

There are no emergencies waiting on a run with the final field only attracting 16 acceptors on Tuesday.

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