Blue Diamond Stakes – 2021

Track: Good   Weather: Fine

Sixteen runners have accepted for Victoria’s richest two year old race.  The field is made up of ten colts, one gelding and five fillies.  James Cummings has a strong hand with three runners in the race.  Lloyd Kennewell is the other trainer with multiple runners, he is trying to win his first “Diamond”.  The main lead ups are the Blue Diamond Preview / Preludes with eleven of them having had their last start in one of those events.

Leading Victorian trainers Ciaron Mahar & David Eustace saddle up Enthaar.  The unbeaten filly has been the Blue Diamond favourite ever since markets opened months ago and looks a potential star in the making.  At her latest start she lead and won easily.  General Beau is unbeaten this preparation.  He has won both the Blue Diamond Preview and Prelude (colts and geldings edition) leading into this.  Anamoe flashed late to just miss first up in a terrific return to the races.  Damien Oliver has a wide gate to contend with here but this colt looks capable of going to a new level second up with the blinkers applied.  Anamoe’s stable mate Ingratiating is on a quick back up from a Flemington win last week.

Dosh won the fillies edition of the Blue Diamond Preview on Australia Day and is one of three unbeaten horses in the race.  Artorius swooped down the outside to win by 4.8 lengths at Sandown last start.  He drops back in trip 100m but maps well from barrier ten.  Jigsaw was wide during the Prelude but stuck on well to run third and Arcaded has won her two starts by a combined total of 5.8 lengths.  The remaining runners are longer than $20-1.

1. General Beau

General Beau is a strong colt who has won 3 of his 4 starts including both starts this time in.  He races up on speed making his own luck and will be ridden by the rising superstar Jamie Kah. Hard to knock.

2. Ingratiating

On the quick back up after winning over 1100m down the Flemington straight last week.  He is drawn to get a good run for William Pike from barrier 7.  In the mix.

3. Finance Tycoon

Got too far back in the Magic Millions 2YO Classic on the Gold Coast.  He did beat Ingratiating (narrowly) when they clashed during the Spring.

4. Pegasi

Won a strong maiden at Geelong two back.  Then finished third in Sydney but was a long way from the smart Profiteer.  Doubt he’s good enough to feature here.

5. Anamoe

Blinkers First Time.  Produced an incredible finish to win at Sandown during the spring. Then we made him a black booker after he scorched home to narrowly miss last start.  The step up from 1100m to 1200m looks ideal.  A serious talent with a stack of upside.  If there is a danger to Enthaar, then he might be it.

6. Abseiler

Showed some good speed to lead in the Blue Diamond Preview, fighting on well to finish in fourth place.  Has the task ahead of him here from the outside barrier.

7. Artorious

Good effort to run home into second against the pattern at his Geelong debut.  Then was far too good at Sandown.  Drops back in trip 100m and gets blinkers first time.

8. Jigsaw

Brave effort to finish third after being trapped wide last time.  Prior to that bolted in at Geelong on debut.  Not out of this.

9. Construct

Worked home well after being forced to snag back from a wide gate first up.  Will settle much handier on Saturday and gets blinkers for the first time.  Consider for multiples!

10. Marine One

Another with blinkers on for the first time.  He has found the line nicely in his two runs back.  Multiples!

11. Hitotsu

Far from disgraced on debut reeling off the third fastest last 200m of the race.  Likely to be giving them a big start at the top of the straight.

12. Dosh

Unbeaten filly.  Did plenty wrong on debut but class prevailed.  A much more professional effort in her return where she lead and won the fillies preview.  Interestingly Graeme Begg has only elected to give her one run into this.

13. Enthaar

Boom filly.  Yet to put a foot wrong and has done nothing but shorten since Blue Diamond future markets opened.  Sat 3 wide on debut in the spring but still far too good.  Returned with a lovely trial and then cruised around Caulfield to win first up with ease.  Has drawn wide which makes things a little harder but still clearly the one to beat.

14. Arcaded

Unbeaten.  She has won both her starts against the fillies with ease.  The times suggest she needs to improve again to be a winning chance here.

15. Wolves

Dwayne Dunn – back from injury – picks up the ride on Wolves.  She has been solid at her two starts but looks unlikely here.  A wide draw doesn’t do her any favours either.

16. Ginibi

Started $100-1 in the Blue Diamond Prelude (Fillies) and was safely held.  Not here.

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

Jo’s Tips	Lewis’ Tips
13. Enthaar	13. Enthaar
1. General Beau	5. Anamoe
14.Arcaded	7. Artorius
5. Anamoe	8. Jigsaw

Group 1 Oakleigh Plate 2021 (Caulfield 1100m)

Group 1 Futurity Stakes 2021 (Caulfield 1400m)