Tuesday’s barrier draw for the $1M Blue Diamond Stakes at Caulfield this Saturday wasn’t kind to undefeated filly Earthquake. She’ll jump from gate fifteen and her price has drifted steadily since the marble was drawn. She’s now $3.40 out from $3.00 whilst Rubick, the boom colt from Gerald Ryan’s yard who only faired slightly better in term of barriers (10), is the solid favourite at $3.00. Only two other runners are quoted in single figures – Chivalry, who ran an eye-catching in the Prelude, is at $7.50 whilst Nayeli ($9.00) will be attempting to deliver Gai Waterhouse her first Blue Diamond Stakes.
Blue Diamond Stakes Form Guide
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1. BOOMWAA – N Callow (13) 56.5kgs
Took on the older horses last week in the G1 Lightning Handicap but found the competition too slick, finishing tenth of twelve beaten 7.6 lengths. He has built a solid record in five starts against his own age, only missing a place once however, the son of Mutawaajid takes on the very best 2 year olds in the land for the first time here and from gate thirteen, would need to produce his absolute best to secure a place.
Odds: $61.00
2. RUBICK – B Avdulla (10)
The son of Fastnet Rock has lived up to the hype surrounding him with two good wins from as many starts in the past month. He cantered home on debut at Randwick before lining up in the G3 Blue Diamond Prelude (1100m) a fortnight ago as the odds-on favourite. A touch slow away from an inside gate, he had to muster early speed to hold a forward position and lead the field rounding the turn. He found plenty when challenged in the run home and won by a length, defeating Jabali and Chivalry. He had to do it at both ends last start, a sign of a good horse, and trainer Gerald Ryan who won this race with Paint in 1996, his confident of his chances reporting during the week “He looks great and he’s right for the race.”
Odds: $3.00
3. MOHAVE – C Symons (6)
He won the Listed Blue Diamond Preview (1000m) by ¾ of a length over Cornrow two starts ago after securing a lovely run throughout behind the leading pace. The colt by Exceed And Excel again found himself in a good position in the Blue Diamond Prelude, sitting second in the run to eventual winner Rubick. Disappointingly though, he was weak in the run home and finished tenth, 5.6 lengths from the winner. He’ll get his chance in the run from a relative good draw but needs to show significant improvement on last start.
Odds: $67.00
4. CHIVALRY – S Baster (5)
Comfortably defeated Bugatty at his second start back in December and then returned with an eye-catching effort in the Blue Diamond Prelude (1100m) a fortnight ago where, after settling at the tail of the field from a poor draw, he made up a tonne of ground in the run home to finish third (1 ¾ lengths) behind Rubick. The Street Cry colt has drawn a much more favourable gate here and should be able to tag what will be a solid pace. Fitter again for last start, his first in over a month, and rates a genuine chance at a good price.
Odds: $7.50
5. NOSTRADAMUS – G Boss (11)
Won the Nursery Plate at Flemington on debut mid-January for Team Hawkes by a comfortable 2 ¼ lengths before drawing the widest gate in a field of sixteen in the Blue Diamond Prelude. The half brother to 2010’s Blue Diamond winner Star Witness had no options from his wide gate but to race back. From worse the mid-field on the turn, he made up very good ground late. Drawn wide again but Star Witness came with a withering burst and wouldn’t doubt this colt being able to produce something similar.
Odds: $10.00
6. JABALI – D Oliver (3)
Damien Oliver will be looking for his first Blue Diamond victory since he piloted Alinghi to success back in 2004. Jabali ran second on debut in the Listed Maribyrnong Plate back in November before being spelled by trainer Mick Price and returning for last fortnight’s Blue Diamond Prelude. The Exceed And Excel colt secured a lovely run behind the leading line of four runners before peeling out at the top of the straight and chasing Rubick valiantly, finishing second by a length. Fitter again, drawn to get a lovely run and at $15.00, looks a very attractive each-way chance.
Odds: $14.00
7. CORNROW – L Nolen (4)
Stable-mate to Jabali, he started favourite when returning from a thirteen week spell in the Listed Blue Diamond Preview (1000m) late last month. He had his chance to run Mohave down in the straight but fell ¾ of a length short in finishing second. Started at 40/1 at his following and most recent start, the Blue Diamond Prelude where he settled mid-field on the run. He tagged Jabali (ran 2nd) into the straight but wasn’t able to improve his position from there and finished fifth (2.8 length). He needs to improve off of that run again to be winning here.
Odds: $67.00
8. ZULULAND – M Zahra (7)
He made good ground on debut back in November, when finishing second (1 ¾ lengths) to Nordic Empire and was then spelled by trainer David Hayes. The son of Fastnet Rock, who cost connections $1.5M at last year’s Easter sales, then returned to contest the G3 Chairman’s Stakes (1100m) three weeks ago. He settled three back on the fence and hit the rail upon straightening before balancing up and finishing off nicely to claim fourth (4.7 lengths) behind Nayeli. Would think he can figure in good races over longer trips in the future but this race may have came a bit too soon for him.
Odds: $81.00
9. FRANCESCO – V Duric (8)
The Wanted colt made his debut in the week before Christmas, finishing third on protest behind Kumaon at Rosehill. His only run since saw him finish sixth (2.9 lengths) behind Rubick in last fortnight’s Blue Diamond Prelude. Got a lovely run behind the speed from gate three and the gap opened up when he needed it to but he could only hold is position in the run to the line. That was his first start for seven weeks and his first look at Caulfield so could expect him to improve, enough though to make up the ground required to be winning?
Odds: $67.00
10. MALAGUERRA – B Rawiller (1)
Well bred son of Magnus who is under the care of Mornington Trainer Wez Hunter. He led all the way in recording a comfortably two length win on debut in a Cranbourne Maiden before contesting the G3 Blue Diamond Prelude. He found himself just worse than midfield as the turned for home and his jockey on the day, Craig Williams, opted to pick runs through the field in the straight. The runs never eventuated though and he found plenty of traffic before finishing ninth, beaten 5 ½ lengths. Should’ve finished closer than he did last start but will need luck again after drawing the inside gate.
Odds: $41.00
11. STRATUM STAR – C Newitt (12)
He got his tongue over the bit so no surprise to see him finish second to last behind Nostradamus on debut at Flemington last month. The Rick Hore-Lacy trained colt then started an unwanted 150/1 in the Blue Diamond Prelude last fortnight but produced a run that belied his price by finishing seventh and within 3 ½ lengths of the winner, Rubick. The Stratum colt was a clear last as the field turned from home and got tightened at the 200m but was still closing well on the line, finishing a length behind Chivalry and Nostradamus.
Odds: $51.00
12. EARTHQUAKE – D Browne (15) 54.5kgs
Didn’t let punters down when, as the 8/15 on favourite in last fortnight’s Blue Diamond Prelude for fillies, the daughter of Exceed And Excel recorded a comfortably 2 ¾ length win over Eloping. She sat second in the run before leaving her rivals standing at the furlong and winning in a time that Rubick was to later exactly match. The draw here is obviously a concern, it has brought many a fancied runner in this race undone however; she has been very smart in her two wins and quite likely that her best is still yet to come.
Odds: $3.40
13. NAYELI – J McDonald (9)
Made it two wins from as many starts with a solid 2 ¼ length win in the G3 Chairman’s Handicap (1100m) three weeks ago. The More Than Ready filly camped on the speed before proving much too strong late for Bugatty and Cautious. Could not have done any more than what she has in her two starts and whist this is a step up in class, she appears to have the credentials to be competitive again.
Odds: $9.00
14. GOLCONDA – D Stackhouse (2)
After winning the Listed Desiree Stakes in strong fashion back in November, the Robbie Laing trained runner started 5/2 when she resumed ten weeks later in the Listed Blue Diamond Preview for fillies. She was in the right spot on the turn to produce a lot more than she did and disappointed in finishing second to last in the field of nine, 5.1 lengths behind Eloping. The Snitzel filly then settled midfield in the Blue Diamond Prelude for fillies at her following start and didn’t really improve her position in the run home, finishing sixth behind Nayeli. Needs to lift considerably.
Odds: $67.00
15. TOP DOLLY – C Williams (17)
She pulled up lame after finishing eighth of eleven in the Blue Diamond Prelude for fillies a fortnight ago behind Earthquake. That was her first run for fourteen weeks and best to go on her debut effort when, as the 5/2 favourite, the daughter of Choisir made up a lot of ground to run second to Oakleigh Girl in the G3 7news Stakes (1000m). Want find it easy to bounce back from last start, especially when jumping for the outside gate.
Odds: $67.00
16. PIACENZA – M Rodd (14)
A good run on debut in last October’s Listed Debutante Stakes (1000m) where the Denman filly didn’t have an easy run in transit but made up a lot of ground to finish third (2 lengths) behind Moonlight Hussler. Trainer McEvoy then sent her for a spell and she returned in a 2yo Open class race at Morphettville (1000m) as the 9/10 on favourite but unfortunately for those who took the short price, she was run down late and finished second (1 ½ lengths) to Duckworth. She contested the Blue Diamond Prelude a fortnight ago, gaining a lovely run throughout the race from a good draw but failed to make an impression on the leaders in straight, finishing 3.6 lengths behind Earthquake. Has a lot of ground to make up and will not be able to do it from a poor gate.
Odds: $81.00
17. STATUE OF WARRIORS – (16) – 1st Emergency.
Only had the two starts and whilst they’ve both been in Listed company, the Jerome Hunter trained galloper has been well accounted for in both. He finished last on debut in the Blue Diamond Preview and eighth of ten in the Listed Talindert Stakes last week behind Marcado. There are much easier races available for him.
Odds: $401.00
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RACE OVERVIEW
There will be plenty of a pace with Boomwaa, who is drawn between Rubick and Earthquake, prominent. The two favourites will be keen to use Boomwaa as a trial and take up a forward position themselves. Earthquake and Rubick haven’t disappointed to date and will not again on Saturday, both should be involved in the finish. Would not underestimate the chance of Chivalry and Jabali here, both have drawn well and should either of the favourites be feeling the pinch late, will be well placed to take advantage. Nayeli and Nostradamus the next best.
- EARTHQUAKE
- RUBICK
- CHIVALRY
- JABALI
