Prepared by Robbie Griffiths at Cranbourne, two year-old filly Areti powered to the line in the 1000 metre juvenile fillies event last night leaving well fancied Godolphin runner Brittany in her wake.
Areti scored by nearly two lengths earning high praise from her trainer and
jockey Mark Zahra."Robbie gave me the heads up and said she was quick in the jumpouts at Cranbourne," Zahra said.
"She was quick away and I was able to give her a little rest before the turn and then she was good late.
"We were really running early and I thought something could run over the top of me the speed we'd gone but she put a couple of lengths on them at the turn and held them well."
Robbie Griffiths was confident leading into the race and has the Blue Diamond in his sights.
"She's shown us good ability at home," Griffiths said.
"We had her in last week but scratched because of a wide draw. Tonight wasn't ideal either but we had to get her going if she is going to be somewhere near a Blue Diamond start."
Areti was retained to race by Hillside Thoroughbreds and is the first winner for Ajamais (Fr), a half-sister to stakes-winner Hostessante and to the dam of 2015 Champion Older Horse in Europe, Solow.
Hillside Thoroughbreds will offer the current yearling from Ajamais, a chestnut filly by Americain (USA) as Lot 441 at Inglis Premier.
