Blue Diamond Preview (C&G) – 2021

Track: Soft-Heavy   Weather: Rain

A field of eleven have accepted for the Colts and Geldings edition of the Blue Diamond Preview.  The race is worth $160,000.  Six of these are first up and three are having their first start in a race.  Beaudacity is the only horse to have had a run on rain affected ground.

General Beau is the early favourite.  He won on debut and then finished second at start number two during the spring – he cruised around to win a recent Flemington jump out ahead of his resumption here.  The second favourite is Gulf Of Suez.  He has shown sustained speed in both of his career wins and has had an eight week freshen up into this race.  Extreme Warrior ran well on debut and has jumped out very impressively at Sandown.

Midwest is a debutant from the Freedman stable and has won two recent jump outs easily.  Abseiler kicked off his career with a one length victory at Flemington on January 9 and will only improve with race fitness/experience on his side.  Bacchanlia caught the eye winning a trial at Kembla Grange by 8.8 lengths and James Cummings knows what it takes to win this race.  Marine One was okay on debut and he gets to race on his home track for the first time.  The remaining runners are longer than $20-1.

1. Abseiler

Abseiler defied a big drift in the market to win on debut on January 9.  He found a lovely spot behind the leader and showed a nice turn of foot to score by a length.  He should only improve off that and is likely to find a nice spot in the run again here.

2. General Beau

General Beau resumes. He impressed on debut and then was upset as a short price favourite when finishing second in the Maribyrnong Trial Stakes at his next start. He cruised around to win a recent Flemington jump out signaling he has come back well. Expect him to settle close to the speed from an inside gate.  He is one of the main chances.

3. Gulf Of Suez

Jump and run type who has won both career starts in Adelaide by big margins.  He meets stronger opposition here but looks talented!

4. Extreme Warrior

Mick Price and Michael Kent saddle up Extreme Warrior who was tipped out for a spell after a solid debut second in the Debutant Stakes at Caulfield in the Spring.  He was impressive winning a recent Sandown jump out, beating Dosh who is second favourite for the fillies edition, and looks to have some come back a better horse.  If he can handle the soft/heavy conditions then he should be right in the finish.

5. Marine One

Marine One ran a weakening third at his debut in the Group 3 Maribyrnong Plate on November 3.  He was quickly sent for a spell and has impressed at the jump outs in recent weeks.  Tounge Tie goes on here.  He is not out of it.

6. Beaudacity

This son of Brazen Beau finished midfield at his only race start back in October.  He cruised around in a recent jump out at Cranbourne, winning it by a narrow margin.

7. Bacchanalia

Solid debut on October 17 when fourth behind Capitivant.  Found the lead in a recent trial and sprinted away to win by nearly nine lengths.  Must respect this stable and rider.

8. Vinlago

First up.  Safely held on debut.  Stable is going well but haven’t seen enough to recommend in a race of this quality.

9. Galactic Rock

Debutant from Griffiths and de Kock yard.  He has had one public jump out in which he finished a solid second.

10. Midwest

First starter who has shown good talent in his two jump outs.  I particularly liked the versatility he showed coming from off the speed to win one and leading all the way in the other.

11. Power Crunch

Doug Harrison saddles up this first starter.  He closed strongly to narrowly win a recent Cranbourne jump out.

The following are the top 4 selections for this years race.

Jo’s Tips	Lewis’ Tips
2. General Beau	4. Extreme Warrior
4. Extreme Warrior	2. General Beau
3. Gulf Of Suez	7. Bacchanalia
1. Abseiler	3. Gulf Of Suez

2021 Blue Diamond Preview (Fillies)