Batters' Blue Diamond confidence grows after perfect draw

By Glenn Davis

You can’t win a prize without having a ticket.

That’s how Sunshine Coast trainer Damien Batters is approaching his attempt to claim a maiden Group 1 win with Queensland filly Party For Two in the Blue Diamond Stakes at Sandown Hillside on Saturday.

The Blue Diamond is Victoria’s premier two-year-old feature and is being held away from its regular Caulfield venue for only the second time after being staged at Flemington in 1996.

Batters and connections rolled the dice in the Blue Diamond lottery paying a $55,000 late entry fee on Monday with Party For Two.

No Queenslander has ever won the Blue Diamond Stakes since the race was first run in 1971.

However, Batters, a former furniture salesman before starting training full time three years ago, hopes to put his name up in lights alongside some of the nation’s greatest trainers.

Party For Two drew perfectly in barrier one for the $2 million Blue Diamond over 1200 metres and will be ridden by former Victorian Nikita Beriman.

The daughter of Sidestep stamped her credentials for the famous juvenile sprint with a brave second to the Godolphin-owned filly Exploring in the Group 2 Blue Diamond Prelude earlier this month.

Party For Two had previously won twice from three starts at the Sunshine Coast and Doomben.

“We got the visitor’s draw in the Blue Diamond Prelude and now we’ve got the draw we wanted for the Blue Diamond,” Batters said.

“She’s got very good gate speed and she’ll be able to follow the rails around the corner and won’t have to work too hard.”

As well as training in his own right, Batters is also stable foreman for David Vandyke at Caloundra and looks after a barn of 11 horses for him off course.

“One thing I can guarantee is she’ll give it all. She’s got a big heart and a stack of ability,” Batters said.

“We’re under no illusion it’s a Group 1 and they’re not easy to win but she’s got a good barrier and she’s a real fighter so they’ll know she’s there.

“I’ll be stoked if she can win and bring it back to Queensland.”

In the past 20 years, barriers have not had a major impact on the Blue Diamond with a mix of winners drawing well and out wide.  

Since 1983, barriers four and five have been the most successful gates with six wins while barrier nine has produced four wins.

The Blue Diamond has been won six times by turf great David Hayes while Lee Freedman has won it three times.

Sydney trainer Peter Snowden claimed the Melbourne feature twice in his own right before a third win in partnership with son, Paul.

Batters is living the dream with Party For Two who was unwanted in two sale rings as a yearling after failing to reach her reserve.