While Home Affairs colt Guest House was all the rage to remain unbeaten, the new connections of exciting Street Boss colt Closer To Free would be over the moon after his win in the G3 MRC Blue Diamond Prelude (C&G) (1100m), having only purchased him recently off the back of a jumpout victory.
Defeating the Listed Merson Cooper quinella of Eternal Warrior and Stretan Ruler in his most recent jumpout, Sean Buckley’s Ultra Horse Syndicate stepped in and purchased the unraced Closer To Free, sending him to trainer Danny O’Brien with the son of Street Boss now looking a realistic chance in the $2m G1 MRC Blue Diamond (1200m) on February 21.
With short priced favourite Guest House missing the start from barrier 6, Ciaron Maher’s last start Listed Blue Diamond Preview third placegetter Invicto went along the rail to take the lead before Michael Dee allowed Closer To Free to amble up on his outside and put his head in front.
Jamie Melham had Guest House racing three wide just off the leading duo, but it was clear as the field went into the straight that that favourite was starting to struggle to reel in Closer To Free who was showing plenty of fight.
As the line was reached, Closer To Free held a winning length margin over Guest House with the Eternal Warrior and Stretan Ruler franking the jumpout form, finishing third and fourth.
"I saw him in the mounting yard before the trial because I had one in it and Adrian is one of the best, if not the best, breakers and he does all of our yearlings," O'Brien said.
"I asked him what he was doing down here and he said he was trialling this one with the potential to sell him.
"Before the horse left the mounting yard after the trial, I walked back with him and saw how easily he'd taken it. As Adrian was hosing the horse down, I bought him.
"He's a beautiful colt and he's got a proper pedigree. With Street Boss, his first three dams were all two-year-old stakes winners, so there is plenty to like about him."
Having ridden Devil Night to win last year's Blue Diamond after the colt had finished second in the Prelude, jockey Michael Dee was suitably impressed by Closer To Free.
"I saw him live when he trialled, and I thought, wow, what was that thing?" he said.
"It wasn’t until last Saturday that Jack Howard (Racing Manager) said, ‘we’ve booked you aboard this two-year-old we’ve bought the other day,’ so I was quite excited.
"He does everything perfectly… he actually gives me a similar feel to what Devil Night did last year, in the same race today last year.
"Hopefully that’s good signs going forwards."
Shortening into equal second favourite for the G1 Blue Diamond behind the unbeaten Big Sky, as much as 200/1 was being offered a few weeks back for Closer To Free for the Diamond.
Taking his earnings to $210,750 with his debut victory, Closer To Free was purchased by Polaris Bloodstock for $60,000 at last year’s Inglis Classic yearling sale from the draft of John Muir’s Milburn Creek, who offer four lots at his year’s sale.
Closer To Free is the first winner (and stakes winner) out of the Listed SAJC Cinderella Stakes winning Choisir mare Lady Naturaliste, a half-sister to the Listed Debutant Stakes winner Tanker.
Interestingly, the last son of Street Boss to win the G3 Blue Diamond Prelude (C&G) was Hanseatic, with that colt going on to finish a narrow second in the G1 Blue Diamond Stakes two weeks later behind Tagaloa.
Closer To Free became the 88th individual stakes winner for Darley’s Street Boss, headed by 11 individual G1 winners including Anamoe, whose first crop yearlings sold up to $1.1m at this year’s Magic Millions, and G1 Coolmore Stud Stakes winner Tentyris who looks to head to the G1 Black Caviar Lightning Stakes next Saturday after producing some pleasing work between races at Caulfield on Saturday.
