Trainer Tony Vasil's hopes of becoming only the second trainer to ever win Victoria's richest two-year-old race with a horse having just its second start have taken a battering after his exciting filly Psychologist drew the outside barrier for Saturday's $1 million race.
Psychologist - who won the Blue Diamond fillies prelude over 1100 metres on February 6 by an impressive four and a quarter lengths in her only previous start - drew barrier 16 on Tuesday and immediately lost her rating as second favourite for the 1200 metre race.
The filly is aiming to join the Rick Hore-Lacy trained Redoute's Choice in 1999 as the only horse to have won the Blue Diamond at its second start with Redoute's Choice going on to become one of Australia's best sires.
But according to Sportsbet.com.au; Psychologist now faces a near impossible task in her crack at history with her odds easing from $5 to $8.
"Trainer Tony Vasil might need some therapy after Psychologist drew out in the car park," Sportsbet.com.au’s Haydn Lane said following the draw
"She's a gun filly but she'll need to be extra special and have all the favours in the run to be a chance from there."
Psychologist showed phenomenal early gate speed on debut when she easily scored an all-the-way win but on that occasion there were just eight starters but in a 16 horse field it will be near impossible for her to jump and lead all the way on Saturday.
The Danny O'Brien trained Star Witness, who displaced Psychologist as second favourite following Tuesday's barrier draw, also drew poorly in barrier 15 and was immediately eased from $6.50 to $7 in betting.
However exciting New South Wales colt Beneteau - an easy winner in his two starts to date including in the colts' prelude on February 6 - drew much better in barrier nine and is now a clear $3.60 favourite for Saturday's big race.
2010 Blue Diamond Stakes field:
1. GENERAL TRUCE - Trainer Ricky Maund - Jockey Andrew Mallyon - barrier 14 - weight 55.5kg.
2. STAR WITNESS - Danny O'Brien, Nicholas Hall, 15, 55.5.
3. BENETEAU - Paul Messara, Daniel Ganderton (a), 9, 55.5.
4. SECESSION - Peter Snowden, Kerrin McEvoy, 5, 55.5.
5. BIT OF A DUDE - Stuart Gower, Michael Hoppo, 8, 55.5.
6. SPIRIT CENT - John Leek (Jnr), Michelle Payne, 13, 55.5
7. TRICKY TRICKY - Leon Corstens, Michael Rodd, 1, 55.5
8. LEGALISTIC - David Hayes, Brad Rawiller, 12, 55.5
9. SHE'S GOT GEARS - Robbie Laing, Craig Williams, 2, 53.5
10. SWEET CHEEKS - John McArdle, Damien Oliver, 4, 53.5
11. CRYSTAL LILY - Mathew Ellerton & Simon Zahra, Chris Symons, 11, 53.5
12. ROULETTES - Michael, Wayne & John Hawkes, Steven King, 3, 53.5
13. PSYCHOLOGIST - Tony Vasil, Mark Zahra, 16, 53.5
14. SHAAHEQ - David Hayes, Danny Nikolic, 6, 53.5
15. EVIDENTIA - David Hayes, Brett Prebble 7, 53.5
16. WILLOW CREEK - Peter Moody, Luke Nolen, 10, 53.5