Racing: Fingers crossed for word on Blue Diamond

It's all Bruce Wallace can do to wait until 11 o'clock this morning for a telephone call to the Melbourne handicapper to ensure Royal Pericles will get a start in the A$1 million Blue Diamond Stakes.

Royal Pericles' fabulous close second to Italia in Saturday's $500,000 New Zealand Bloodstock Classique has further convinced Wallace that the grey colt will be competitive in Melbourne's most famous juvenile race.

Royal Pericles sat three wide without cover for most of the race, had to come six wide on the home bend and was beaten only a long neck in a desperate finish.

Our 2-year-olds are generally regarded as inferior to Australia's at Blue Diamond level, but Wallace says he can't wait to get there.

"He's passed the first two levels of eligibility for the Blue Diamond. It will now come down to stakemoney and I need to check in the morning that's he's won enough."

From two wins and an unlucky third from three starts, Royal Pericles has won $24,375. The $84,400 he picked up for Saturday's second is not taken into consideration for Blue Diamond eligibility because the race was restricted to horses bought at Karaka as yearlings.

Like most observers, Wallace thought Royal Pericles would fade out to finish mid-field from the 250m after such a torrid passage.

Wallace and rider Gary Grylls had decided to allow Royal Pericles to drop out from his very wide barrier, but the colt had other ideas, charging up wide in mid-field after only 200m.

"He pulled very hard between the 1000m and the 600m," said Grylls.

Unfortunately for Royal Pericles and his connections he provided eventual impressive winner Italia with the perfect drag into the race.

Italia and Vinny Colgan tracked Royal Pericles to the bend and quickly challenged on the outside.

The southern filly looked likely to win easily - and Colgan said she won a bit easier than it appeared - but Royal Pericles fought bravely.

Wallace rates Royal Pericles the best he has trained since Star Dancer.

"I've do doubt he's a genuine group horse and won't surprise me if he measures up to group one class in 18 months."

Grylls has been offered the Blue Diamond ride.

"Gary's done a lot of the hard work. My experience has taught me that when you get a team working successfully together you throw caution to the wind to break that team up."