The Group 1 Blue Diamond Stakes will headline a massive day of racing at Caulfield this Saturday afternoon, with 16 runners and two emergencies accepting for the $2 million race.
After Tuesday’s barrier draw, online bookmakers have six runners marked under double figures, confirming that this year’s edition of the race could be one of the best we have seen in some time.
The undefeated colts Coleman (+360) and Bodyguard (+400) sit atop the market after they drew middle barriers next to one another.
The Coleman has been nothing short of impressive in his two starts to date, with his most recent win coming in the Group 3 Chairman’s Stakes over 1000m.
Given the Matt Laurie-trained galloper didn’t run in either the Blue Diamond Preview or Blue Diamond Prelude at Caulfield, he is one of the unknown commodities when compared to most of the field.
Bodyguard has been just as impressive in his two starts and was a strong winner of the Group 3 Blue Diamond Prelude (C&G) over 1100m last time out, defeating Stay Focused by half a length.
The lone representative from the in-form Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott stable will be Lady Of Camelot (+500), who was a dominant winner of the Group 3 Widden Stakes at Rosehill last start and will make the trip across the border for her maiden Victorian run.
After getting no luck late as the favourite in the Blue Diamond Prelude (C&G), High Octane (+600) will push onto the Blue Diamond Stakes, where he is expected to appreciate the wide barrier (10) and rise in distance to 1200m.
The Peter Moody & Katherine Coleman-trained filly Eneeza (+850) will round out the runners in single figures, with the two-time Group 3 placegetter racing over 1200m for the first time.
2024 Blue Diamond Stakes field
1. Rue De Royale (17)
- T: Tony & Calvin McEvoy
- J: Chad Schofield
- W: 57kg
- F: 2×24
- Age: 2YO
- Color: Brown
- Sex: Colt
- Sire: Per Incanto (USA)
- Dam: Urban Royal
+1250
2. Spywire (18)
- T: Ciaron Maher
- J: John Allen
- W: 57kg
- F: 3121
- Age: 2YO
- Color: Brown
- Sex: Colt
- Sire: Trapeze Artist
- Dam: Secret Trail
+625
3. Bodyguard (6)
- T: Peter & Paul Snowden
- J: Mark Zahra
- W: 57kg
- F: 1×1
- Age: 2YO
- Color: Bay
- Sex: Colt
- Sire: I Am Invincible
- Dam: Tumooh
+100
4. Coleman (7)
- T: Matt Laurie
- J: Ben Melham
- W: 57kg
- F: 1×1
- Age: 2YO
- Color: Bay
- Sex: Colt
- Sire: Pierata
- Dam: Sboog
-111.11
5. Stay Focused (15)
- T: Phillip Stokes
- J: Daniel Stackhouse
- W: 57kg
- F: 21
- Age: 2YO
- Color: Bay
- Sex: Colt
- Sire: Cosmic Force
- Dam: Coral Reef
+350
6. Dublin Down (3)
- T: Tony & Calvin McEvoy
- J: Harry Coffey
- W: 57kg
- F: x124
- Age: 2YO
- Color: Bay
- Sex: Colt
- Sire: Exceedance
- Dam: Dublin Lass
+1250
7. Traffic Warden (14)
- T: James Cummings
- J: Craig Williams
- W: 57kg
- F: 312
- Age: 2YO
- Color: Bay
- Sex: Colt
- Sire: Street Boss (USA)
- Dam: Efficiently
+825
8. High Octane (10)
- T: Peter & Paul Snowden
- J: Blake Shinn
- W: 57kg
- F: 51
- Age: 2YO
- Color: Bay
- Sex: Colt
- Sire: Deep Field
- Dam: Granny Red Shoes
+150
9. Zestiman (8)
- T: Ben, Will & JD Hayes
- J: Declan Bates
- W: 57kg
- F: 51
- Age: 2YO
- Color: Bay
- Sex: Colt
- Sire: Zoustar
- Dam: Estijmaam
+2000
10. Fearless (16)
- T: Peter & Paul Snowden
- J: Michael Dee
- W: 57kg
- F: 2×4
- Age: 2YO
- Color: Bay
- Sex: Colt
- Sire: Pierata
- Dam: Matildare
+500
11. Hayasugi (11)
- T: Clinton McDonald
- J: Jamie Kah
- W: 55kg
- F: 11×52
- Age: 2YO
- Color: Bay
- Sex: Filly
- Sire: Royal Meeting (IRE)
- Dam: China Road
+450
12. Eneeza (5)
- T: Peter Moody & Katherine Coleman
- J: Damian Lane
- W: 55kg
- F: 2×12
- Age: 2YO
- Color: Bay
- Sex: Filly
- Sire: Exceed And Excel
- Dam: Sweet Sherry
+210
13. Lady Of Camelot (4)
- T: Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott
- J: Adam Hyeronimus
- W: 55kg
- F: 1×4
- Age: 2YO
- Color: Bay
- Sex: Filly
- Sire: Written Tycoon
- Dam: Miss Debutante
+125
14. Kuroyangi (2)
- T: Will Clarken & Niki O’Shea
- J: Brenton Avdulla
- W: 55kg
- F: 21
- Age: 2YO
- Color: Chestnut
- Sex: Filly
- Sire: Written Tycoon
- Dam: Tetsuko
+450
15. Matisse (1)
- T: Anthony & Sam Freedman
- J: Luke Currie
- W: 55kg
- F: 33
- Age: 2YO
- Color: Bay
- Sex: Filly
- Sire: Microphone
- Dam: Sanadaat
+450
16. Flyer (13)
- T: Jason Warren
- J: Jye McNeil
- W: 55kg
- F: 1
- Age: 2YO
- Color: Bay
- Sex: Filly
- Sire: Exceedance
- Dam: Miss Toorak Flyer
+3100
17 (1E). In Her Eyes (9)
- T: Leon & Troy Corstens
- J: Blaike McDougall
- W: 55kg
- F: 72
- Age: 2YO
- Color: Bay
- Sex: Filly
- Sire: Star Witness
- Dam: Love Spy
+3750
18 (2E). Altermatum (12)
- T: Tony & Calvin McEvoy
- J: TBC
- W: 55kg
- F: 5×3
- Age: 2YO
- Color: Bay
- Sex: Filly
- Sire: Star Witness
- Dam: Alter Call
+3750
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