Vivy Air out to repeat Five Diamonds formula in Craven Plate

A seven-day back up into the Craven Plate hasn’t been a long-range plan for Vivy Air, but connections have reason to believe it could be a fruitful one.

The mare has only raced on a short turnaround once before when runner-up in last year’s Big Dance (1600m) before turning up four days later to capture the Five Diamonds (1800m).

In that vein, Ciaron Maher’s assistant trainer, Jo Gerard-Dubord, has little hesitation in her lining up in Saturday’s Craven Plate (1800m) at Randwick a week after placing in the Angst Stakes (1600m) at the same venue.

“She has only backed up once in the past and won a Five Diamonds. She seems to have thrived,” Gerard-Dubord said.

“It’s not a big field and it’s good prizemoney. She has come through the run really well and James (McDonald), when he got off her, felt she was looking for ground and she’ll get that. She will run a race.”

McDonald will be in Melbourne on Saturday where he rides Aeliana in the Cox Plate (2040m) with Regan Bayliss taking over on Vivy Air.

Tim Clark sticks with stablemate Eliyass in the same race, the gelding a model of consistency having won the Premier’s Cup Prelude (1800m) in August and finished third behind Attrition and Lindermann in the Hill Stakes (1900m) last time out.

Lindermann will again be among his Craven Plate rivals, and Gerard-Dubord says Eliyass probably needs a rain-afected track to turn the tables.

“Last start in the Hill Stakes he probably had his chance,” Gerard-Dubord said.

“Things aren’t going to change a lot for him or Lindermann, but he hasn’t missed a beat, and we couldn’t be happier with him.

“If we could get a bit more give in the track, that would help him. I can’t fault the horse, but he probably needs to find that extra length to beat Lindermann.”

Lindermann was a $2.30 favourite on Friday with Eliyass at $7.50 and Vivy Air a $9 chance.