Diablo Bolt set to build on strike-rate

By Glenn Davis

The training partnership of Annabel Neasham and Rob Archibald is hopeful Diablo Bolt can continue to build on his impressive record when he heads to Eagle Farm on Wednesday.

Diablo Bolt will be aiming to maintain his unbeaten record this campaign when he clashes with new stable arrival Vaguer in the Benchmark 78 Handicap over 1845 metres.

A four-year-old son of Hellbent, Diablo Bolt had two starts for the former training partnership of Peter and Paul Snowden before he transferred to Neasham in 2023.

In his 13 starts under Neasham’s care, Diablo Bolt has won six times and placed on another two occasions.

Diablo Bolt is chasing a hat-trick of wins after he resumed with a narrow victory over 1800 metres at the Sunshine Coast in August of last year before crushing his opposition by more than seven lengths in a 1600 metre Class 5 Handicap at the Sunshine Coast last month.

The five-year-old Vaguer has won four of his 16 starts in NSW.

Vaguer is coming off a last start third to the Kris Lees-trained Oakfield Hawk in a 2300 metre Benchmark race at Newcastle in November last year.

The stable's Brisbane-based assistant trainer Todd Pollard has booked Ron Stewart for the riding duties on former Irish galloper Vaguer.

“Jag (Guthmann-Chester) normally rides Diablo Bolt and has won on him four times but he’s suspended,” Pollard said.

Pollard has given punters a lead with his preference for Diablo Bolt over Vaguer.

“They’re both good horses who we hope will make Saturday grade but I’ve got a soft spot for Diablo Bolt,” Pollard said.

“Diablo Bolt loves the winning post but we didn’t expect him to win as many as he has for us.

“He has an impressive winning strike-rate and he should be hard to beat in his first go in town on a Wednesday.

“His best distance is around 1800 to 2000 metres.”

Vaguer has impressed the stable in trackwork.

“He’s a handy galloper so hopefully we can end up with the quinella,” Pollard said.