The Group 1 Blue Diamond Stakes is Victoria’s premier sprint race for two-year-olds run at set weights.
Race Type: Group 1
Distance: 1200m
Track: Caulfield Racecourse, Melbourne, Victoria
| Blue Diamond Stakes Odds | ||||||||||||||||
|
||||||||||||||||
A field of up to 16 will be racing this year for over $1 million in prize money plus trophies. The race will be contested over 1200 meters on Caulfield’s triangular racecourse. It is a set weight event with colts and geldings carrying 55 1/2 kgs and fillies carrying 53 1/2 kgs.
Blue Diamond Stakes Final Field, Barrier Draw & Weights
| No. | Horse | Trainer | Jockey | Barrier | Weight (kg) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | SEPOY | Peter Snowden | Kerrin McEvoy | 5 | 55.5 |
| 2 | MASTHEAD | Lee Freedman | Dwayne Dunn | 13 | 55.5 |
| 3 | ARCTIC COMMAND | Wendy Kelly | Dale Smith | 10 | 55.5 |
| 4 | DELAGO’S LAD | John McArdle | Chris Symons | 9 | 55.5 |
| 5 | GRAND BRITANNIA | Robbie Laing | Nash Rawiller | 11 | 55.5 |
| 6 | ATOMIC | Lee Freedman | Craig Newitt | 2 | 55.5 |
| 7 | RUNNING TALL | Danny O’Brien | Ben Melham | 1 | 55.5 |
| 8 | ENVIOUS | Clinton McDonald | Glen Boss | 8 | 55.5 |
| 9 | ANEVAY | Tim Martin | Nicholas Hall | 3 | 53.5 |
| 10 | SPECTROLITE | Robbie Laing | Danny Nikolic | 14 | 53.5 |
| 11 | HOLDONTOYAHORSES | Mick Price | Damien Oliver | 7 | 53.5 |
| 12 | HELPING HAND | John P Thompson | Jim Cassidy | 12 | 53.5 |
| 13 | METONYMY | Peter G Moody | Luke Nolen | 6 | 53.5 |
| 14 | HALLOWELL BELLE | Peter G Moody | Craig Williams | 4 | 53.5 |
Jockey Dwayne Dunn managed to string four consecutive wins in a row after taking out the 2008 race on Reaan. Previous to that he won the 2007 on Sleek Chassis, 2006 on Nadeem and then the 2005 with Undoubtedly. Both Nadeem and Undoubtedly were sired by Redoute’s Choice, the winner of the 1999 Blue Diamond.
2011 Blue Diamond Stakes Preview & Tips
Sepoy ($1.60) is a top-notch colt with a perfect race record of 3 wins from 3 runs. Those wins include both the Blue Diamond Preview for colts and geldings and the Blue Diamond Prelude for colts and geldings by margins of over 3 lengths. He will be the first odds-on favourite since Raise A Rhythm in 1991 but let’s hope history doesn’t repeat because in that race, 20 years ago, Raise A Rhythm finished 4th behind Canonise. Drawn nicely in barrier 5 and should win.
Hallowell Belle ($8.50) is one of six fillies in the race and the only one of the fillies who has not yet won a race. At her first start she ran 2nd to Defiant Dame in the Gimcrack and then returned from a spell to run 3rd in the Blue Diamond Prelude for fillies after being held in and getting a rough run. Should take improvement from that run.
Atomic ($10) has drawn nicely in barrier 2. He has only had one start and looked very impressive when winning the Listed Chairman’s Stakes on 9 Feb coming from well back in the field to beat Vatican and Hollyweird. One of the main chances.
Running Tall ($17) is one of only 3 horses in the race who is still a maiden (the others are Envious and Hallowell Belle). At his first start he was a very close 3rd in the Group 3 Maribyrnong Plate. He resumed from a spell for second behind Sepoy in the Blue Diamond Prelude for colts and geldings. He held the rest of the field well, but it is very unlikely he can turn the tables around on Sepoy at set weights.
Holdontoyahorses ($21) is a lovely filly who won her fist two starts by good margins although both were in small fields. Her latest start was 1.7 lengths 4th behinds One Last Dance in the Blue Diamond Prelude for fillies where she finished strongly and was just behind Hallowell Belle.
Jo’s Tips – Blue Diamond Stakes
1. Sepoy, 2. Atomic, 3. Avenay
[ Bet Now at IASbet ]
The Blue Diamond Stakes is a race renowned for quality as its roll call of past winners attests: Alinghi in 2004, Redoute’s Choice 1999, Hurricane Sky 1994, Courtza 1989, Zeditave 1988, Rancher 1982 and Manikato 1978.
Hurricane Sky, carrying 54 kgs, has the fastest stakes time of 1.08.10.
Past Winners of the Blue Diamond Stakes:
| Year | Winner | Second | Third |
| 2010 | Star Witness | Shaaheq | Beneteau |
| 2009 | Reward For Effort | Real Saga | Maka Ena |
| 2008 | Reaan | All American | Burgeis |
| 2007 | Sleek Chassis | Zizou | Shrewd Rhythm |
| 2006 | Nadeem | Miss Finland | Wonderful World |
| 2005 | Undoubtedly | Seidnazar | Perectly Ready |
| 2004 | Alinghi | Wager | World Peace |
| 2003 | Kusi | Halibery | Divine Secret |
| 2002 | Bel Esprit | Brief Embrace | Pillaging |
| 2001 | True Jewels | La Lagune | Spectatorial |
| 2000 | Road To Success | Ponton Flyer | Mannington |
