Peter Snowden claimed his second Blue Diamond with Earthquake, a horse he described as a “special” filly.
Snowden said Earthquake would now return to Sydney in a bid to become just the sixth horse to complete the Diamond/Slipper double.
Bookmakers believe Earthquake possesses the quality to complete the double achieved by Sepoy, also trained by Snowden, Courtza, Bounding Away, Manikato and John’s Hope.
Earthquake’s odds for the $3.5 million Slipper has been slashed from $4.50 to $2.75 favorite.
Snowden said he could not believe when Earthquake pricked her ears and charged past her rivals to post a dominant Diamond win.
“I thought ‘what is in the tank her’, but that was special,” Snowden said.
“She is just very special. When I saw her Tuesday, I thought ‘just how much as she got’ and this morning I said to Paul (Snowden), I don’t think this filly has peaked.
“It is exciting times ahead. That is only her third start, it’s always been my plan to take her back for the Slipper.
“She always comes first, but if she pulls up well the Golden Slipper is the plan.”
Asked if Earthquake is as good a juvenile as he’s trained, Snowden replied: “How do you know, it was only her third start.
“She just keeps on improving. I never thought I would get another Sepoy again and I might not, but she is doing what he did.
“She is just super.”
Earthquake, backed from $3.60 to $2.90 favorite, registered a one and a half length win from the Mick Price-trained Jabali, $15, with stablemate Cornrow, $61, a neck away third.
Rubick, $3.70, hit the front at the top of the straight, but could not answer the finishing burst from Earthquake as he finished a length away fourth.
Damian Browne said he was stunned how quickly Earthquake reeled in her rivals.
“I gave her a couple of slaps and she picked them up in two strides,” Browne said.
