3 minute read

Jockey Luke Currie is looking forward to the return of Blue Diamond Stakes favourite Hanseatic, who resumes in one of Previews at Caulfield.

Jockey Luke Currie has already won this season's Magic Millions Classic and will get a better idea about his hopes of back-to-back Blue Diamond Stakes victories when favourite Hanseatic resumes in one of the Previews.

Currie is well placed to judge the potential of young horses, having won two of the past three Magic Millions Two Year Old Classics at the Gold Coast on Sunlight (2018) and Away Game (2020).

He is also the reigning Blue Diamond Stakes-winning jockey after riding filly Lyre to victory last year at Caulfield.

Like Lyre, Hanseatic is owned by Godolphin and trained by Anthony Freedman ,and the colt gets a chance to confirm his position as Blue Diamond favourite when he resumes in Saturday's Listed Preview for colts and geldings over 1000m at Caulfield.

Currie rode Hanseatic to victory in the Listed Merson Cooper (1000m) at Sandown in November in his only start.

"He won really well his first go and I jumped him out at Flemington last Friday and he was good," Currie said.

"He's probably better sitting off them and chasing one down but he was a bit good for them in the jump-out so he ended up taking over on the corner and went through the line quite well.

"There's still improvement in him. He was pretty fresh and fired up but he's a really nice horse."

Hanseatic was the $2.60 favourite on Wednesday after a field of 12 was declared for Saturday's Preview.

While the Blue Diamond is still a month away, Hanseatic is the current $9 favourite.

"It's a little bit early yet but he's the pick of what I've seen so far and what I've ridden anyway," Currie said.

The form out of Hanseatic's debut has been enhanced by filly Golden Slipper-bound Away Game, who finished fourth in the Merson Cooper on debut, before going on to win twice including the Magic Millions with Currie aboard.

"She obviously improved a lot off what she did first-up but there's no doubt that he should have taken improvement out of that as well because it was also his first start," Currie said.

In the Group Three Preview for fillies, impressive Geelong debut winner Fresh was the early $3.10 favourite on Wednesday, with Currie booked to ride debutante French Fields, who he said had also jumped out nicely.