Sepoy firmed into a $1.65 favourite for the G1 Blue Diamond Stakes at Caulfield this Saturday after drawing perfectly in barrier five.  The Darley colt has been super impressive in the lead-ups to Victoria’s premier juvenile event and topped off his preparation with a smart workout at Flemington on Tuesday morning.

Sepoy will be gunning for the first leg of a Group 1 double for Darley sire Elusive Quality in the Blue Diamond.

Elusive Quality’s three year-old colt Bullbars firmed in markets for the Australian Guineas after snatching a late victory in the G3 C S Hayes Stakes at Flemington last Saturday.

Elusive Quality stood in Australia for six seasons but he remained in Kentucky when the rest of Darley’s shuttlers arrived here in 2009.  His only southern bred G1 winner at that stage had been AJC Sires’ Produce winner Camarilla.

The performances of Sepoy and Bullbars in the coming weeks are very important according to Darley’s Australia managing director Henry Plumtre.

“Two of the main philosophies we have are to breed colts that go on and stand at stud here in Australia, as well as developing horses to send back to Sheikh Mohammed to race under the Godolphin banner,” Plumtre explained.

Elusive Quality is already booked to stand in South America later this year.  “Instead of bringing him back to Australia, it was hoped some of his sons would take his place here.”

Sepoy is already assured of a spot on the Darley roster and a Blue Diamond win will boost his service fee at stud.