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 »
Simon Zahra admits his confidence in Sword Of Light ahead of the Blue Diamond Prelude has been dealt a blow by the barrier draw. Zahra, who trains in partnership with Mathew Ellerton, says the filly could not be in better shape ahead of her Group Two assignment at Caulfield on… Read More »
A start in Melbourne’s richest race for two-year-olds is on the line in the respective divisions of the Blue Diamond Preludes at Caulfield. The youngsters run in separate heats on Saturday, one for fillies and the other for colts and geldings, to try to make the final field for the… Read More »
Ciaron Maher will be without two of his stable’s big guns during the autumn, but the trainer still has enough horsepower to make an impact. Group One winners Set Square and Srikandi will be missing from autumn action but on Saturday at Caulfield exciting mare Azkadellia resumes in the Bellmaine… Read More »
Steven Arnold is one of the jockeys who could benefit most from Craig Williams’ absence from the C F Orr Stakes meeting. Williams failed in an appeal on Tuesday against the severity of a careless riding ban, meaning new riders needed to be found for a host of good chances… Read More »
A valuable stud deal completed a couple of hours before Rubick raced in the Blue Diamond Prelude will have no effect on trainer Gerald Ryan’s plans for the colt. Coolmore announced it had bought a share in Rubick before he raced at Caulfield on Saturday and the two-year-old duly delivered… Read More »
Leading bookmaker Sportingbet has installed boom two-year olds Earthquake and Rubick $1.85 favourites to win their respective Sportingbet Blue Diamond Preludes at Caulfield on Saturday. $300 BLUE DIAMOND PRELUDE FREE BET Earthquake will face 10 rivals in the fillies division of the Blue Diamond Prelude including unbeaten Eloping ($7) and… Read More »
Boom two-year-olds Rubick and Earthquake are odds-on favourites to win their respective Blue Diamond Preludes on Saturday. Rubick and Earthquake occupy the top two lines of betting for the $1 million Blue Diamond on February 22 and make their first Victorian race appearances at Caulfield on Saturday. The Gerald Ryan-trained… Read More »
A sparkling anti-clockwise gallop by Rubick has convinced Gerald Ryan he is primed for the Blue Diamond Prelude and the colt’s relaxed nature has the trainer confident he will handle the float trip south. Rubick worked at Rosehill on Monday morning with race jockey Brenton Avdulla aboard and was due… Read More »
