The Blue Diamond Stakes is Victoria’s richest 2YO race, and the highlight on a feature race card at Caulfield, including the G1 Oakleigh Plate, and the G1 Futurity Stakes. The set weights 1200m race, has become a target for connections with it’s mouth watering $1.5m prize money purse.
The Diamond is a grand final race for many 2YO, but the $5m Golden Slipper in March, is also another earmark on the calendar for elite 2YO. Only four horses have completed the Diamond-Slipper double, the latest being Darley colt Sepoy in 2011.
This year’s race has brought together a full 16 horse field, plenty of which have winning chances according to the market. Sportsbet has the smart Price/Kent colt, Jacquinot, currently favourite at $5.00 ahead of unbeaten Blue Diamond Prelude winner, Lofty Strike, at $6.50. Team Hawkes trained colt, Sebonack, and Sydney filly, Revolutionary Miss, are also under double figures, both at $7.00.
We know with horse racing that anything can happen and a capacity field of 2YOs can be hard to assess. So, we have dissected each of the horse’s chances for you! Read on below to find our runner by runner preview of the 2022 Blue Diamond Stakes along with The Shark’s best tips.
1. Semillion (16) – $20
Jockey – Damien Oliver 57kg
Trainer – Michael, Wayne & John Hawkes
Winner of the Listed 2YO Inglis at Moonee Valley back in October last year. Resumed with a tough 2nd to Lofty Strike in the colts and geldings BD Prelude, after sitting outside a hot speed. Will have improved off that, but the barrier has put a big dent in his winning chances and I’m happy to go around him here.
2. Lofty Strike (13) – $6.50 – Scratched
Jockey – Jamie Mott 57kg
Trainer – Julius Sandhu
Bred to run early being by Snitzel, out of Golden Slipper winner Overreach, and that’s exactly what he’s done in his short career. His last start win in the colts and geldings BD Prelude was very good, when he sat back and wide, and rounded them up to score impressively by 1.25L. He will drift back from the wide gate again here, and should have every opportunity to get home hard again. One of the main chances.
3. Daumier (5) – $15
Jockey – Mark Zahra 57kg
Trainer – Anthony & Sam Freedman
Has shown plenty of ability in his two starts to date, the latest of those finishing 3rd to Lofty Strike in the colts and geldings BD Prelude. He did have a suck run on that occasion and simply wasn’t good enough. Blinkers go on here, which could spark some improvement and he maps well. Capable of sneaking into the placings again.
4. Sebonack (8) – $7.00
Jockey – Jye McNeil 57kg
Trainer – Michael, Wayne & John Hawkes
Was strong on debut, winning the G3 Chairman’s Stakes here at Caulfield. Hard to knock him off that win, where he ran a good time, and he has to be well respected here again.
5. Counttheheadlights (7) – $17
Jockey – Ben Allen 57kg
Trainer – Ciaron Maher & David Eustace
Won well on debut, before finishing 4th in the colts and geldings BD Prelude behind Lofty Star. He was well supported in the market on that occasion, and was far from disgraced. He’s drawn to get a good run, so if you like him, I couldn’t talk you out of him.
6. Jacquinot (10) – $5.00F
Jockey – Damian Lane 57kg
Trainer – Mick Price & Michael Kent Jr
Debut win had to be seen to be believed, where he came from the back of the field to score eased down over this track/distance. He then stepped out in the colts and geldings BD Prelude, where nothing went his way. He was slow away (3-4 lengths) before running into backsides at the furlong. It’s fair to say with clear running he would’ve troubled, if not beaten, the winner Lofty Star. Ticks plenty of boxes here, stepping back up to the 1200m and from a good draw. If he jumps on terms with them, he is clearly the one they have to beat.
7. Rampant Lion (6) – $18
Jockey – Kerrin McEvoy 57kg
Trainer – Peter G Moody
Yet to win a race in his two starts to date, but has shown plenty of ability nonetheless. Comes from a strong yard, the step up to 1200m looks ideal and is drawn to get a good run. Could surprise at odds.
8. Merchant Prince (12) – $81
Jockey – Luke Nolen 57kg
Trainer – Peter G Moody
Won a Pakenham maiden two back when sent out 20/1, before going down at the mid-weeks last start. Others appear to be stronger here.
9. Flashing Steel (2) – $201
Jockey – Brodie Loy 57kg
Trainer – Annabel Neasham
Gets the blinkers on, but seems he might need more than that to be winning here going off his form to date. Next.
10. Hafey (14) – $16
Jockey – Craig Williams 57kg
Trainer – Ciaron Maher & David Eustace
Looked impressive winning a Bendigo maiden a fortnight ago. Not sure how strong the opposition was and the time was nothing to write home about. Nevertheless, comes from a strong stable and Williams sticks, so can’t completely write him off.
11. Revolutionary Miss (11) – $7.00
Jockey – Jamie Kah 55kg
Trainer – Peter & Paul Snowden
The first of the fillies, and the winner of the fillies BD Prelude. She was good from the back on that occasion, running slightly quicker time than the boys. Hard to knock her off that, and should be strong late again here. Each way chance.
12. Miss Roseiano (9) – $11
Jockey – Jordan Childs 55kg
Trainer – Peter Gelagotis
Solid debut win when she saluted in the fillies BD Preview, before just going under in the fillies BD Prelude a fortnight ago. Makes her own luck on the speed and has plenty of ticker. Will give a sight for her backers.
13. Kiki Express (3) – $81
Jockey – Damien Thornton 55kg
Trainer – Matthew Ellerton
Winner of the Listed Debutant Stakes back in October at Caulfield. Was sound last start in the fillies BD Prelude, where she finished midfield. Drawn to get a nice run from barrier 3, but would need to find a bit to trouble the winner here.
14. English Riviera (4) – $18
Jockey – John Allen 55kg
Trainer – Tony & Calvin McEvoy
Looked the winner on debut before being gobbled up late by Lofty Strike down the straight at Flemington. She then led them up and fought on gamely for 3rd in the fillies BD Prelude. Has the right form lines to be competitive here and has drawn a peach in gate 4. Respect.
15. Waltz On By (1) – $20
Jockey – Blaike McDougall 55kg
Trainer – Peter G Moody
Well bred filly who has shown plenty of promise in her two runs to date. Is on the 7 day back up here after finishing 2nd in last Saturday’s Talindert Stakes at Flemington. She started favourite there and just seemed to get a bit lost the last furlong when she hit the front. Back around a turn here, and from the inside gate, she looks one of the better hopes at odds.
16. Seven Sisters (15) – $35
Jockey – Fred Kersley 55kg
Trainer – James Cummings
Godolphin filly who led at her first two starts, before getting back in the fillies BD Prelude. She got to the line well to finish 4th on that occasion, which shows her versatility. The gate makes things tricky for her here, but with luck in running she could sneak into a place.
Final Word
It’s not often the Blue Diamond disappoints and it’s certainly not the case again here. 16 horses will face the starter, and it looks like a race where all but a few of them can win, if things go their way. There doesn’t look to be a lot between the boys and the girls here judging off both preludes, and a few contrasting form lines are also thrown in the mix to make it an intriguing contest.
The favourite, Jacquinot, was electrifying on debut before his luckless last start 5th in the colts and gelding BD Prelude. Lofty Strike has a 100% record heading into the race after winning up the Flemington straight and again in the Prelude. The McEvoy trained filly, English Riviera, ticks a lot of boxes, as does Peter Moody’s filly Waltz On By, both at good odds.
The list of winning chances goes on and on, but at the end of the day we have to find the best one and I believe that is Jacquinot. I love the barrier he has drawn here (10), and looks as though he will get a solid enough tempo up front to show his jaw dropping turn of foot at the business end. If he jumps away clean, clear the throat, because I’m sure you’ll be doing plenty of cheering the last 100m.
Best Blue Diamond Stakes Tip: 6. Jacquinot – Win ($5.00)
If you need more news, information and tips, head over to our Blue Diamond Stakes page for all your punting needs!
*Odds correct at time of writing, courtesy of Sportsbet.
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