Heavily backed Hinchinbrook filly Samara Dancer proved punters were right on the money when she accelerated smartly to jump right into Blue Diamond calculations with a dominant victory in the Group II MRC Blue Diamond Prelude at Caulfield on Saturday. Prepared in Adelaide by Phillip Stokes, Samara Dancer was an easy debut winner at Morphettville back in November and was having her first run back from a spell. Primed for her return with a five length trial win on her home track on February 5, Samara Dancer travelled sweetly for Dom Tourneur just off the pace and when asked the question in the straight responded quickly. Easy to spot with her flashy four white feet, the dark brown filly let down impressively to win the 1100 metre dash by a length from spring stakes-winner Concealer. “She’s a very classy animal,” said Dom Tourneur. “I like the way she flew past them so quick when I pressed the button.” Phillip Stokes was delighted with the filly, but had expected a good performance given she held her own with his Group I winner Hucklebuck in a gallop on Tuesday morning. “She’s pretty good and has shown us plenty at home, but she had to measure up against the better horses and she’s done that,” said Stokes, who will now head to the Group I MRC Blue Diamond Stakes on February 27. A $130,000 NZB Premier purchase for her trainer from the Phoenix Park draft, Samara Dancer is a half-sister to Group III MRC Caulfield Guineas Prelude winner Éclair Big Bang, who was also trained by Phillip Stokes. “She has a better temperament than Éclair Big Bang,” revealed Stokes. “She’s a lovely filly, you’ll see her in the Thousand Guineas (1600m) as a three year-old.” Bred by Australian owner/breeder Jason Abrahams, Samara Dancer is the third winner from Ennerdale (GB), an unraced Singspiel daughter of Group II winner Whitehaven, whose dam White Star Line won a Group I Kentucky Oaks. Samara Dancer is the third stakes-winner for leading young sire Hinchinbrook, whose star son Press Statement won the Caulfield Guineas last spring and is on track for his autumn return. Standing at Yarraman Park, Hinchinbrook is a three-quarter brother by Fastnet Rock to Snitzel and was a popular choice with breeders last spring covering 157 mares at a fee of $16,500. Hinchinbrook has 11 entries for the 2016 Inglis Premier Yearling Sale at the end of the month.
