The impressive winning performance of Long Leaf in Saturday's $150,000 Blue Diamond Preview could help continue the domination of the Hayes family in this year's $1.5 million Blue Diamond Stakes in a month's time.
Since the race was created in the early 1970s, the Hayes dynasty has managed to carve out a remarkable record in Victoria's most important two-year-old event.
On Saturday, Long Leaf managed to remain unbeaten in three appearances and is now primed for a tilt at the group 1 event later in February.
"We are very excited about him. He's now unbeaten in three race starts and I feel there's probably a little more improvement in him," Ben Hayes said.
Long Leaf not only placed himself high in the rankings for the Blue Diamond, it could give the Hayes training partnership back-to-back victories in the race, after Catchy was successful last year.
However, Hayes believes it's difficult to draw any comparison between Catchy and Long Leaf.
"They both have different racing styles but what they have in common is that they're both genuine and honest," he said.
"I'm just not sure whether we wait for the Blue Diamond or give him one more run. But, what I'm favouring is putting him straight in the race without having another run."
Long Leaf started at $3.80 and defeated Ollivander at $3.90, with Run Naan at $6 in third.
Jockey Damien Oliver was equally as impressed, maintaining the horse's attitude to his racing is excellent.
"He's got a lovely attitude. A really great attitude, he's just a pleasure to ride. He seems like the ideal Blue Diamond horse," Oliver said.
Runner-up Ollivander may have been unlucky considering he was bumped at the top of the straight and lost considerable momentum which could have been the difference between winning and losing.
Thirty minutes later in the fillies division of the Blue Diamond Preview, another youngster kept her unbeaten record intact with an eye-catching performance in the 1000-metre dash.
Lady Horseowner who landed some sizeable wagers when making her debut at Moonee Valley recently, showed that performance was no fluke.
This time, Lady Horseowner came from the back of the field to run down her rivals but was friendless in the betting ring, blowing out from 7-1 out to 10-1.
"I'm just so proud of her. I know I rode her upside down at Moonee Valley when she won but I knew the way I rode her today is what she really enjoys," jockey Nikita Beriman said.
Lady Horseowner's victory franks the performance of Al Nifa who finished second at Moonee Valley in the same race and then went to Sale last Sunday to record an easy win and make herself a genuine Blue Diamond threat.
Trainer Greg Eurell endorsed Beriman's assessment of Lady Horseowner and he, similarly to Ben Hayes, may take the filly straight to the Blue Diamond Stakes without another run.
"She's a very, very smart filly and I'd be quite happy for her to go into the Diamond without another run," Eurell said.
Lady Horseowner is not among entries for next month's Blue Diamond but connections have the option of paying a late entry fee.
"I'll talk to Greg, but look, why not," owner Paul King said. "On that run, you'd have to give it a go, wouldn't you."
Third placegetter Oohood was the run of the race after being hampered in the straight and should have finished a lot closer. She will definitely relish the Blue Diamond Stakes as it will be run over 1200 metres in contrast to Saturday's race that was over 1000m.
