FEATURE PREVIEWS: BLUE DIAMOND STAKES
BLUE DIAMOND STAKES PREVIEW
TRACK: Caulfield | DISTANCE: 1200 | RAIL POSITION: 4M | TRACK CONDITIONS: Good 4 | PRIZE MONEY: $2,000,000
Forecasted to be hot through the week and on Saturday so a fairly hard track expected.
Won in recent years by some top 2yos including Hayasugi, Artorius, Lyre, Extreme Choice, Earthquake & Samaready. We backed Little Brose to win this race at $10 BFSP in 2023 and Daumier to win this race at $23 BFSP the year before.
HISTORICAL PROFILING (IN THE LAST 13 YEARS)
Barrier 1-3 (1/13), 4-5 (4/26), 6-11 (6/78), 12-16 (2/53)Days since last start: 14 (10/118), 21 (1/40), 28 (2/6), Other (0/32)
Gear Change (BLK/TT/W) (4/51)
Career Starts 1 (0/19), 2 (7/95), 3 (5/60), 4 (1/19), 5-6 (0/3)
Career Wins 0 (1/50), 1 (4/100), 2 (6/37), 3 (2/9)
1st up (0/4), 2nd up (7/90), 3rd up (3/72), 4th up (3/24), 5th up+ (0/6)
Pace/Handy (5/92), Midfield/Back (8/104)
Colts (7/97), Fillies (6/90), Gelding (0/9)
Same Jockey Last Start No (4/98), Yes (9/98)
Anthony Freedman (3/7)
Finishing Position Last Start 1st (9/63), 2nd (2/45), 3rd (1/23), 4th (1/20), 5th+ (0/45)
Finishing Position 2nd Last Start 1st (11/98), 2nd (1/32), 3rd (1/15), 4th+ (0/32)
Beaten under 2L last start (13/128), Beaten 2L+ (0/68)
Last Start G2 (3/42), G3 (8/102), Other (2/52)
Last Start 1000m (2/42), 1100m (10/140), 1200 (0/12), 1300m (1/2)
Last Start Caulfield (11/138), Sandown Hillside (2/18), Other (0/40)
Vic City or Vic Black Type run last start (13/177)
2012 to 2019 was won by horses SP $2.20-$7.50
2020 to 2024 SP $26, $13, $20 & $9.50, $16
Settled top 7 (7), Settled 10th-12th (5)
2012 to 2019 was won by horses SP $2.20-$7.50. Last 4 years SP $26, $13, $20 & $9.50.
BETFAIR PRICE ADVANTAGE HISTORY
The three winners of the Blue Diamond between 2020 and 2022 produced prices of $31, $14.50 and $21.62. These came with price advantages of 14.5%, 17% and 20.5% post commission respectively.
The last two winners in 2023 -Little Brose, and 2024 Hayasugi have come at $13.46 and $9.52 indicating a tendency for the race to produce upsets in recent years.
Favourites won 7 of the previous 9 before that however, including 5 in a row from 2011-2015.
SPEED MAP
Fast speed expected as is usually the case in this race. The Playwright looks the likely leader with My Gladiola sitting outside. Devil Night, Field Of Play, Wiltshire Square & Palm Angel will all be pushing forward. Tentyris looks to get a nice run just forward of midfield. Olatunde, Cherish Me, Icarian Dram and Extractor will be back of midfield. Eden Rose and Tycoon Star map wide. Miss Celine, Tempted & Autumn Mystery all have slow early speed and map at the rear. Slow early speed and map at the rear.
KEY RUNNERS
1. Field Of Play – Has won 2 from 2, including a strong win last start in the Blue Diamond C&G Prelude in good time. Profiles as the one to beat.
2. Tycoon Star – Won Flemington 800m 18 Oct jumpout in good time of 48.27. Won the G3 Maribyrnong Plate impressively on debut at $21 for Trial Spy members, then 4th on a wet track. Won Geelong 1000m 29 Jan trial by 0.5L +5.1 quickest of 10 trials on the day. Hit the line well for 4th first up in the Prelude. Blinkers on first time here.
3. Extractor – Raced wide no cover in both trials when won Randwick 742m trial 22 Oct and 2nd Kensington 850m trial Nov 1. Ran a close 3rd on debut in the $1m Golden Gift. Was a solid 3rd first up in the Listed Lonhro Plate.
4. Tentyris – Won the Listed Talindert Stakes last week. Freedman stable have won this race 3 times in the last 6 years.
5. Devil Night – Impressive debut running a close 2nd in the Blue Diamond C&G Prelude. Tough to win this race a second career start but has talent.
8. The Playwright – Won the Widden Stakes leading all the way. This is harder.
9. Palm Angel – Had a nice trail and burst through to win the Blue Diamond Fillies Prelude. Time was 2L slower than the boys, but does map nicely.
10. Icarian Dream – Sat wide no cover and was very impressive winning Kensington 850m 23 Sep trial by 1L +1.5 last 600m. Won Warwick Farm maiden for us on debut. Then 4th beaten 0.9L in the $1M Golden Gift before 2nd at Rosehill after getting too far back but finishing home strongly. Won for us at G3 level at Eagle Farm then down the track in the Magic Millions 2yo. Can surprise.
12. Miss Celine – Hit the line solidly for 4th beaten 2L in the Blue Diamond Fillies Prelude.
13. Wiltshire Square – Ran 2nd at Listed level on debut to Palm Angel. Sat 2nd on a hot speed first up in the Fillies Preview and stuck on well for 3rd, then sat 3 wide no cover in the Fillies Prelude and stuck on well for 3rd. In the mix.
14. Cherish Me – Won well at Geelong on debut. Tough race to win at second start but is trained by Maher.
TOP 4 SELECTIONS
1. Field Of Play
13. Wiltshire Square
3. Extractor
2. Tycoon Star
BLUE DIAMOND BETTING STRATEGIES
**Dean Evans monitors market fluctuations, track conditions, weather, scratchings, stewards’ notifications, and general news before submitting his betting strategies for Victorian Group 1s. Make sure you’re following Dean Evans on the Betfair App and turn on notifications to get alerted when he shares his strategies—sometimes as close as 30 minutes before a race.**
Betting Strategy
BACK: 1. Field Of Play (WIN) for 2 units
Profiles very nicely for this race and looks the hardest to beat.
BACK: 13. Wiltshire Square (WIN) for 2 units
Hasn’t had much luck in her career to date and can surprise.
BLUE DIAMOND STAKES TIPS
The Blue Diamond Stakes is one of the premier races in Australia, and is held annually at Caulfield Racecourse in Melbourne. The race is a Group 1 for two-year-olds and it is run over a distance of 1200 metres. The Blue Diamond Stakes is held during the Melbourne Autumn Racing Carnival which takes place in February and March. The Blue Diamond Stakes is part of the Triple Crown of Australian two-year-old races, which also includes the Golden Slipper Stakes and the Sires Produce Stakes in Sydney.
Over the years, many talented horses and trainers have won the Blue Diamond Stakes. Some of the most notable winners of the race include Zeditave, Redoute’s Choice, Sepoy, and Catchy. These horses went on to have successful racing careers, and many of them became champions in their own right.
Likewise, many successful trainers have also won the Blue Diamond Stakes. Some of the most successful trainers in the race’s history include Bart Cummings, Lee Freedman, Peter Moody, and David Hayes. These trainers have trained multiple winners of the race and have established themselves as some of the most successful trainers in Australian racing history.
If you’re looking to bet on the Blue Diamond Stakes there are several things you should consider. One of the most important factors to consider is the form of the horses that are competing in the race. This will give you an idea of which horses are likely to perform well and which ones might struggle.
Another important factor to consider is the odds of each horse. This will give you an idea of how much money you could potentially win if you bet on a particular horse. The odds are determined by a variety of factors, including the horse’s form, the jockey’s record, and the trainer’s history.
When it comes to betting on the Blue Diamond Stakes, there are several options available. One of the most popular options is to bet with Betfair, an online betting exchange that allows you to bet on a variety of sports and racing events. Betfair is a great option for betting on the Blue Diamond Stakes because it offers competitive odds and a wide range of betting options.
If you’re looking for expert predictions and best bets for the Blue Diamond Stakes you can turn to the Betfair Hub. Many racing experts and analysts provide their predictions for the race in the weeks leading up to the event, and these can be a valuable resource for anyone looking to bet on the race.
