Wide goal for Perth raider Brave Halo adds intrigue to Blue Diamond’s form

And while Barrier 16 has never produced a Blue Diamond winner, the race has never been held at Sandown, which will prove to be a very different task from years past.

Casey said they would draw on Oliver’s experience to come up with a successful plan.

“We’ll have to let Damien handle this,” he said.

“As he’s more familiar with the track and the rest, I think we just have to race the same race. We’re going to be clear this time, so I think we’ll keep Barber in mind and use him as a benchmark.

“If it’s too heavily focused on inside horses then James and my horses will be vulnerable but I think they’re the more dominant ones in the race.

“He knew where to push buttons the other day, but you don’t get favors over there. He was in a place where the other jockeys wouldn’t let him out. Hopefully Ollie can use his knowledge and win a three point with cover line.”

Casey said there was no reason why Brave Halo – a winner of three races in Perth before Christmas – couldn’t improve on second, but was aware Barber is likely to improve as well.

“I have to respect Barber for being a big, strong horse and he’ll benefit from that run the other day and he beat us,” said Casey.

“It will be a tactical battle, but also a very fast race.

“Every race he has raced he has always attacked the line. His dissections have always been good, he never fell [over the line] in a race. There’s no reason to run his 1100m the other day that he won’t run the 1200 as well.

“When it comes to fruition, it will be super exciting. We’ve been very lucky with the early two-year-olds in recent years. To have a live chance in a $2 million Group 1 race, especially with the caliber of horses, trainers and owners, it’s a silky day for us.