Written By has justified a huge go in betting with a dominant win in the 2018 Group 1 Blue Diamond Stakes (1200m) at Caulfield this afternoon.
Written By stamped himself as a genuine Blue Diamond prospect when he won the Group 3 Blue Diamond Prelude C&G (1100m) and received the lion’s share of support in betting this afternoon; firming $9.50 into $5.50 favouritism.
Jumping from the gates well, jockey Jordan Childs was able to cross the field with the son of Written Tycoon from barrier 15, but was caught three-wide without cover across the back straight and approaching the bend.
Offered a clear line upon arriving at the final straight, Written By mustered another impressive turn of foot to pull clear of his rivals; comfortably finding the line in the clear of the fast-finishing Enbihaar ($21) and Oohood ($9).
In piloting Written By in the Blue Diamond Stakes, Childs claimed his first Group 1 win this afternoon and was understandably elated with the result.
“Words can’t really describe it – it’s fantastic!” Childs said after the Blue Diamond.
“He’s been a tricky horse, but it all comes down to this big race day when it really counts.
“Obviously growing up and starting out through the ranks, all you want to be doing is riding on the big days and winning Group 1s and to win my first in a Blue Diamond, it’s fantastic.”
Trainer Graeme Begg has always had a big opinion of Written By, a colt bred by his former champion trainer father Neville.
“He just doesn’t know how to lay down and I just knew after his first-up run that he’d just improve in leaps and bounds,” Begg said.
“Everyone thought that the wide gates was a big knock on him, but he just had the best couple of weeks since the Prelude and his work on Monday morning just had to be seen to be believed. I just knew he was spot-on.
“I thought ‘Oh here we go again, three-wide outside the lead and doing it tough, but he just let down so well.
“I’m just so proud. Mum and dad back at home will be delighted. He (Neville Begg) bought the mother for $3000 and I don’t know why he hung onto her, but he saw something in her and she goes back to Pins in her pedigree and he persisted and now she’s got a Group 1 winner. It’s just outstanding.
“This horse is three runs for three wins, it’s pretty special and it’s onwards and upwards.”
Begg is yet to make a decision on whether or not Written By will continue onto a start in the Group 1 Golden Slipper (1200m) and will let the horse’s condition dictate what happens.
“We’ll let the horse do the talking for us,” he said.
“We’ll have a really easy week coming up and it’s a month between runs, but we’ll make sure the horse has got something left.”
Written By is $31 into $10 in our 2018 Golden Slipper market following his win in the Blue Diamond Stakes.