I Am Immortal will take an unbeaten record into the Blue Diamond Stakes after winning a prelude for colts and geldings at Caulfield. But the two-year-old will also contest the $1.5 million race with reservations about his ability to run out a strong 1200m. Sent out the $2.50 favourite, I… Read More »
Four of the numerous high-profile horses who have been transferred from now-disqualified trainer Darren Weir are set to line up in Australia’s first Group One race of the year at Caulfield. Weir was on Wednesday disqualified by the Racing Appeals and Disciplinary Board for four years after not contesting Victorian… Read More »
Exciting Godolphin-owned filly Athiri has made an instant impression on James Cummings’ Melbourne-based assistant trainer in preparation for her Blue Diamond Stakes bid. Athiri arrived at Godolphin’s Flemington stables in Melbourne from the operation’s Sydney base a few days ago ahead of Saturday’s Group Two Blue Diamond Prelude (1100m) for… Read More »
Catch Me and I Am Immortal are the early favourites to continue their winning ways in the respective divisions of the Blue Diamond Preludes which are set to provide the best pointers yet towards Victoria’s premier juvenile race. Saturday’s Blue Diamond Prelude for fillies has attracted 21 nominations highlighted by… Read More »
Jason Warren has watched the recent Blue Diamond lead-up races and is happy with the position he is in as he prepares to unleash the exciting Brooklyn Hustle in the fillies Prelude at Caulfield. Last Saturday week’s Blue Diamond Previews were won by filly Catch Me and colt I Am… Read More »
Brooklyn Hustle has recently lost Blue Diamond favouritism but the filly has shown she is on track for the $1.5 million Group One race with a pleasing jump-out at Mornington. The Jason Warren-trained two-year-old made a big impression with a convincing win at The Valley on debut on December 1… Read More »
It has been less than smooth sailing getting Written By’s preparation on track. But trainer Grahame Begg is convinced he has a serious horse on his hands after the colt remained unbeaten in the Blue Diamond Prelude at Caulfield on Saturday. Written By needed barrier education after failing to load… Read More »
The result of the Blue Diamond Preludes will determine whether Luke Currie remains in Melbourne for Blue Diamond day and misses the first Sydney lead-up run of Golden Slipper favourite Sunlight. Currie is the rider of brilliant Magic Millions winner Sunlight who is scheduled to have the first of her… Read More »
In-form jockey Kerrin McEvoy will run the rule over another promising two-year-old when he rides Godolphin colt Plague Stone for the first time in the Blue Diamond Prelude at Caulfield. Since returning last week from a hand injury, McEvoy has saluted on Chris Waller-trained juveniles Performer and Fiesta at Rosehill… Read More »
With Ollivander safely tucked away in the Blue Diamond Stakes, training partners Mathew Ellerton and Simon Zahra are hoping Bionics can join his stablemate in Victoria’s richest two-year-old race. The pair run in the colts and geldings division of the Blue Diamond Prelude (1100m) at Caulfield on Saturday. Flemington-based Zahra… Read More »
Mick Price says he will be disappointed if High Ratio does not measure up when the colt makes his stakes racing debut in a key Blue Diamond lead-up at Caulfield. High Ratio won convincingly in his only start at Bendigo on December 6 and steps out on his home track… Read More »
Trainer Grahame Begg has walked away from the Cranbourne trials a relieved man. He had watched two-year-old Written By score an impressive 800m-trial win, but more important was the notification the colt had passed a barrier test. The two-year-old was slapped with the ban following his win on heavy ground… Read More »
Cao Cao stamped himself as a Blue Diamond prospect during the spring and jockey Mark Zahra is eagerly awaiting the colt’s return after partnering him to his latest jump-out win at Caulfield. Zahra rode the Mick Price-trained colt in his two spring starts for a second in the Maribyrnong Plate… Read More »
Lindsay Park senior trainer David Hayes may have been disappointed with Oscietra’s third at her Flemington debut but he’s happy in the knowledge the stable has two ready-made replacements. Tulips and Catchy, both debut Moonee Valley winners last month, are on a path to next month’s Blue Diamond Stakes at… Read More »
Group One-winning jockey Damian Lane believes talented juvenile Sword Of Light can bounce back from a last-start failure when she steps out in a Listed race at Flemington. Sword Of Light impressed with wins at her first two starts including the Group Three Blue Diamond Preview for fillies at Sandown… Read More »
When Dom Tourneur rides in Victoria, the South Australian jockey makes it count. He heads to Caulfield for three rides in Group One races on Saturday, all for Phillip Stokes, and two are leading contenders. Hucklebuck is a $5.50 second favourite behind Turn Me Loose ($3.30) in the Futurity Stakes… Read More »
A lot can hinge on the barrier draw for a big race. While Mick Price has two of the leading hopes in Saturday’s Blue Diamond Stakes at Caulfield – Extreme Choice and Flying Artie – both have drawn double digit barriers while his third string runner China Dream has also… Read More »
Leading Adelaide trainer Phillip Stokes has been taken to hospital after being kicked by a horse he was unloading from a float at Gawler for a barrier trial. Johan Petzer, South Australian chairman of stewards, said he was not aware of the extent of Stokes’ injuries which happened on Monday… Read More »
Damien Oliver says he will make a decision on his Blue Diamond ride in the next 24 hours after winning on Flying Artie at Caulfield. The champion jockey has the pick of the Mick Price-trained juveniles Extreme Choice and Flying Artie in the $1.5 million race at Caulfield on February… Read More »
Well-backed Samara Dancer has stamped her class will an impressive win in the Blue Diamond Prelude for fillies at Caulfield. The Phillip Stokes-trained filly firmed to start the $4.20 favourite in Saturday’s 1100m Group Two race at Caulfield and maintained an unbeaten start to her career as she sprinted to… Read More »
