The Group 1 Blue Diamond Stakes (1200m) takes place at Caulfield Racecourse on Saturday, February 24, and is worth $1.5 million in prizemoney.
Open to two-year-olds, the Blue Diamond Stakes is Melbourne’s premier sprint throughout the autumn carnival and is run at set weights conditions with colts and geldings allocated 56.5kg while fillies carry 54.5kg.
First run in 1971 and won by Tolerance, the race has since grown in stature and has been won by outstanding racehorses such as: Manikato (1978), Zeditave (1988), Redoute’s Choice (1999), Bel Esprit (2002), Alinghi (2004) and Sepoy (2011).
Blue Diamond Stakes Day also features the Group 1 Oakleigh Plate (1100m) and Group 1 Futurity Stakes (1400m) as well as five other races run at Group 2 and Group 3 level.
In 2018, the current crop of speedy two-year-olds will be aiming to join the illustrious honour roll, and those looking for early Blue Diamond Stakes Tips can get the lowdown on the leading contenders.
OOHOOD
Tony McEvoy has been kicking goals with his juvenile crop and most recently claimed the Magic Millions 2YO Classic with Sunlight. He’ll be aiming for another rich 2YO feature and certainly has the arsenal to do it. Oohood (I Am Invincible x Bella Sunday) possesses a better turn of foot than any of her Blue Diamond rivals but her racing pattern has proved costly to date and she may need some luck. She charged home to finish a nose from Long Leaf on debut and has been the real eye-catcher in both runs this campaign when closing hard to get into the placings. Two runs at Caulfield and the longer trip in the Blue Diamond give her an excellent chance.
KINKY BOOM
Another one from the McEvoy yard with Kinky Boom (Spirit Of Boom x Kinka Rhode) looming as a big chance if she can take the next step. She came from last on debut in the Inglis 2YO (1200m) and easily put them away to score by a widening 1.75 lengths. She’s sure to have plenty of upside, but just like her stablemate, Oohood, she’s likely to get back in the run and may need luck to go her way.
WRITTEN BY
The Grahame Begg-trained Written By (Written Tycoon x Yau Chin) is unbeaten in two starts including a most impressive victory in the Blue Diamond Prelude (C & G) (1100m). He worked hard from the outside gate and was caught three deep without cover but proved too strong over the concluding stages and held the challengers at bay. A softer run in transit makes him one of the top chances.
LONG LEAF
Trainer David Hayes has won this race on six occasions and certainly knows what it takes to win it. Together with training partners Ben Hayes and Tom Dabernig, the trio won this race with Catchy in 2017 and will be aiming for back-to-back victories with a couple of leading chances. Long Leaf (Fastnet Rock x Frustrating) is unbeaten in three career starts and resumed this campaign with a half-length victory in the Blue Diamond Preview (1000m). He’ll settle just behind the speed and won’t need the luck of some of the others.
SEABROOK
Trainer Mick Price is another that knows how to get a two-year-old up for this race having won it in 2012 with Samaready and most recently with Extreme Choice (2016). His filly, Seabrook (Hinchinbrook x Midnight Revels), was fair finishing 4th on debut at Moonee Valley over 1000m, but it was her first-up run in the Blue Diamond Prelude (F) (1100m) that really caught the eye. She worked home strongly from the rear clocking the quickest 200m splits from the 600m to the 400m but just peaked on her run late. Will improve off that and should be finishing hard.
