Get ready for a thrilling day of racing action as we shift gears from Flemington to Caulfield, where the spotlight shines on Victoria’s most lucrative two-year-old race: the G1 Blue Diamond Stakes. But here’s where it gets controversial—while this race has crowned legends like Manikato, Rancher, Zeditave, Redoute’s Choice, and Sepoy, the path to victory is anything but predictable. And this is the part most people miss: the strategies, late entries, and underdog stories that make this event a true spectacle.
Mick Price and Michael Kent Jnr are back in the spotlight with two strong contenders, Guest House and Big Sky. Price, a two-time Blue Diamond winner (Samaready in 2012 and Extreme Choice in 2016), knows what it takes to conquer this race. Meanwhile, Lindsay Park is gunning for its 11th Blue Diamond triumph, fielding three likely starters: Torture, Eurocanto, and Saturday’s Talindert Stakes winner Hard Kick. Here’s the twist: Hard Kick wasn’t initially nominated, so connections must pay a hefty $55,000 late entry fee if they want him in the race. Will it be worth it? Only time will tell.
Ciaron Maher is also in the mix, chasing his maiden Blue Diamond win with Magic Millions 2YO hero Unit Five and Milsons Point. And let’s not forget Zambales, who finished second to Hard Kick on Saturday and is now backing up for Anthony and Sam Freedman. The Freedmans have won this race twice in the past six years, with Anthony also claiming a solo victory in 2019. But the question remains: Can they make it three in six, or will a new contender steal the show?
Saturday’s 10-race program isn’t just about the Blue Diamond. The G1 Oakleigh Plate for sprinters and the G1 Futurity Stakes add even more excitement. In the Futurity Stakes, the brilliant Treasurethe Moment returns, eyeing a tilt at The All-Star Mile. And this is where it gets even more intriguing: With a field this competitive, who will rise to the top?
Here’s the full lineup for the G1 Blue Diamond Stakes (1200m, set weights, 2YO):
- Closer To Free (T: Danny O’Brien / J: Michael Dee)
- Eternal Warrior (T: Lloyd Kennewell / J: Damian Lane)
- Guest House (T: Mick Price and Michael Kent Jnr / J: Jamie Melham)
- Chayan (T: Annabel and Rob Archibald / J: Lachlan Neindorf)
- I Am Aria (T: Mark Walker / J: Craig Williams)
- Streisand (T: Clinton McDonald / J: Ben Melham)
- Alibaba (T: Ken and Kasey Keys / J: Craig Newitt)
- Unit Five (T: Ciaron Maher / J: Thomas Stockdale)
- Ghana’s Akan (T: Ciaron Maher)
- Big Sky (T: Mick Price and Michael Kent Jnr / J: Jordan Childs)
- Torture (T: Ben, Will and JD Hayes)
- Milsons Point (T: Ciaron Maher / J: Ben Allen)
- Eurocanto (T: Ben, Will and JD Hayes / J: Luke Currie)
- Hard Kick (T: Ben, Will and JD Hayes / J: Zac Purton (tbc))
- Lady Moscato (T: Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott / J: Jye McNeil)
- Zambales (T: Anthony and Sam Freedman / J: Daniel Stackhouse)
Emergency Acceptors:
- Invincible Son (T: Robbie Griffiths / J: Jamie Mott)
- Stretan Ruler (T: Phillip Stokes / J: Beau Mertens)
- Almost An Angel (T: Robbie Griffiths)
- Tough Romance (T: Tony and Calvin McEvoy)
- Jacaranda (T: Ben, Will and JD Hayes)
The G1 Oakleigh Plate (1100m, Open Handicap) features:
- De Bergerac (T: Grahame Begg)
- Don’t Hope Do (T: Simon Zahra / J: Teo Nugent)
- Gallant Son (T: Peter Moody and Katherine Coleman)
- Geegees Mistruth (T: Mark Walker / J: Michael Dee)
- Hedged (T: Gavin Bedggood / J: Harry Coffey)
- Jedibeel (T: Brad Widdup / J: Damian Lane)
- Oak Hill (T: Ben, Will and JD Hayes)
- Pallaton (T: Michael Freedman)
- Point Barrow (T: Anthony and Sam Freedman / J: Jamie Melham)
- Rosberg (T: Clinton McDonald)
- She’s Bulletproof (T: Charlotte Littlefield / J: Celine Gaudray)
- Spywire (T: Ciaron Maher / J: Jye McNeil)
- Tropicus (T: Anthony and Sam Freedman / J: Craig Williams)
- Way To The Stars (T: Matthew Smith / J: Ethan Brown)
And for the G1 Futurity Stakes (1400m, WFA 3YO+):
- Buckaroo (T: Chris Waller / J: Jye McNeil)
- Evaporate (T: Ben, Will and JD Hayes)
- Feroce (T: Dom Sutton / J: Billy Egan)
- Leica Lucy (T: Chris Waller / J: Ethan Brown)
- Pericles (T: Bjorn Baker / J: Craig Williams)
- Tom Kitten (T: Anthony and Sam Freedman) – nominated, doubtful to run
- Treasurethe Moment (T: Matt Laurie / J: Damian Lane)
- Watch Me Rock (T: Mark Walker / J: William Pike TBC)
- Welwal (T: Mick Price and Michael Kent Jnr)
Now, here’s the big question: With so many talented horses and trainers in the mix, who do you think will dominate the day? And more importantly, which underdog story will capture your heart? Let us know in the comments—we’d love to hear your predictions and opinions!
