Racing on Saturday heads to Caulfield with the running of Caulfield Charity Family Day, which sees the start of the Festival Of Racing period.
This will be the first time this meeting has been run without a Group 1 race given the move of the C.F Orr Stakes to the Spring and that has been replaced by the Kevin Heffernan Stakes, a race run with weight-for-age conditions at the same distance but for much less prizemoney and at Group 3 level.
The Blue Diamond Preludes for the youngsters arguably now take centre stage with the likes of Guest House, Eurocanto, Jacaranda and Rubi’s Choice the leading players for the respective divisions to be run at 1100m.
Also on the program is the running of the Rubiton Stakes, Carlyon Cup, Peter Le Grand Stakes and Autumn Stakes at Group 2 or 3 level.
We take a look at the predicted line ups ahead of Saturday’s racing below with the latest information.
The fillies Prelude will see exciting maiden winner Jacaranda up against Blue Diamond Preview winner Rubi’s Choice and Geelong Diamond winner Moana Spirit. Expect also to see the likes of Streisand, I Am Aria and Gin Twist in the nominations.
Blue Diamond Fillies Prelude – 1100m
| Horse | Trainer | Jockey |
| STREISAND | (C McDonald) | J Melham |
| JACARANDA | (B, W & JD Hayes) | M Dee |
| RUBI’S CHOICE | (G Eurell) | B Mertens |
| I AM ARIA | (M Walker) | |
| MOANA SPIRIT | (T & C McEvoy) | L Currie |
| GIN TWIST | (B, W & JD Hayes) | |
| CHAYAN | (A & R Archibald) | L Neindorf |
The boys division sees stakes winners Eurocanto and Eternal Warrior up against current pre-post Blue Diamond favourite Guest House. Two runners that caught the eye in the Preview in Invicto and High Alert are expected in the nominations, along with the talented Stretan Ruler.
Milsons Point is likely to head straight to the Blue Diamond Stakes and miss this race, while Preview winner Alibaba heads to Sydney for the rich Inglis Millennium this weekend.
Blue Diamond Colts & Geldings Prelude – 1100m
| Horse | Trainer | Jockey |
| GUEST HOUSE | (M Price & M Kent Jnr) | J Melham |
| STRETAN RULER | (P Stokes) | L Neindorf |
| ETERNAL WARRIOR | (L Kennewell) | D Lane |
| EUROCANTO | (B, W & JD Hayes) | L Currie |
| INVICTO | (C Maher) | |
| HIGH ALERT | (A & S Freedman) | C Williams |
| CLOSER TO FREE | (D O’Brien) | M Dee |
| MARCH ON BY | (S Zahra) | J Childs |
Group 1 winners Veight and Feroce headline the likely nominations for the Kevin Heffernan Stakes, with the classier types up against the race-fit and in-form Zou Sensation and possibly Regal Zeus.
Kevin Heffernan Stakes – 1400m
| Horse | Trainer | Jockey |
| VEIGHT | (T & C McEvoy) | L Currie |
| FEROCE | (D Sutton) | D Lane |
| ZOU SENSATION | (L & T Corstens & W Larkin) | J Melham |
| REGAL ZEUS | (J McArdle) | |
| STEPARTY | (P Preusker) | |
| CAFE MILLENNIUM | (B, W & JD Hayes) | |
| HUGHES | (G Bedggood) |
Ciaron Maher is set to run a squad of horses in the Carlyon Cup with Light Infantry Man, Willydoit and Holymanz to be in the entries, alongside Rise At Dawn, Immediacy, Charterhouse and Air Assault.
Carlyon Cup – 1600m
| Horse | Trainer | Jockey |
| LIGHT INFANTRY MAN | (C Maher) | E Brown |
| WHISKY ON THE HILL | (G Thompson) | D Lane |
| AIR ASSAULT | (A Gluyas) | L Neindorf |
| RISE AT DAWN | (B, W & JD Hayes) | J Melham |
| WILLYDOIT | (C Maher) | M Dee |
| HOLYMANZ | (C Maher) | |
| IMMEDIACY | (T Busuttin & N Young) | J Allen |
| CHARTERHOUSE | (G Bedggood) | H Coffey |
| SAGANTI | (M Price & M Kent Jnr) | B Mertens |
| LITZDEEL | (D O’Brien) | C Williams |
Caulfield Guineas runner-up Planet Red returns in the Autumn Stakes at 1400m, while speedster Pallaton tackles the older horses in the Rubiton Stakes.
Exciting filly Jenni The Ninja will also be seen in the Peter Le Grand Stakes on the day.