Blue Diamond Preview
Group 1 - 2YO's - 1200m
Victoria's premier event for two-year-olds, the Blue Diamond Stakes, highlights a stellar card of Group 1 racing this weekend at Caulfield. A capacity field of juveniles will face the starter vying for their share in $1.5 million in prize money. With the 2018 edition of the diamond shaping up as one of the widest in recent memory, BlueBet has dissected the form to help you find the winner.
The colts and geldings look to have the edge over the fillies this year having run overall time 0.24 seconds (or three lengths) quicker in comparing the traditional lead-up races, the Blue Diamond preludes. Having said that, the winner of the C&G's prelude Written By looks mighty hard to knock. Trained by Graeme Begg this Written Tycoon colt remains unbeaten from his two career starts and could not have been more impressive in the prelude where he was used up early, covered ground, and still had the audacity to kick clear at the top of the straight and hold off the late challenge of Plague Stone. It was a super tough performance that lends us to believe that if he has improved since that he'll be very hard to beat come Saturday. Has drifted in early markets as a result of drawing wide but his natural gate speed should allow him to cross and settle in the first few runners quite comfortably. Really like him and think he is a great each way bet at the current quote of $10.
Godolphin's Plague Stone looks the main danger having run second, a half-length away to Written By in the prelude. This colt has had an almighty boom on him ever since his first trial which saw him subsequently backed off the map on debut at Rosehill, only to cost himself the race after racing much to keenly throughout. His run in the prelude was fantastic, clocking the fastest last 600m of the race (35.18) despite enduring a luckless run three and four wide. Seemed to handle Caulfield quite well and with a kinder run in transit expect this son of Lonhro to be right in the finish. Currently sits on the second line of betting at $7.50
Prairie Fire backs up here seven days after breaking his maiden up the straight in the Talindert at Flemington. The addition of the blinkers really switched this guy on and he traveled like the winner a long way from home, pouncing on them at the 200 and exploding away to win in quick time. The fact that Mick Price has chosen to back the colt up must mean he's come through the run exceptionally well and the 1200m looks right up his alley. Will need luck from gate 1 but gets the services of Mark Zahra who's riding in tremendous touch.
Despite running second to Enbihaar in the prelude, Tony McEvoy's Oohood looks the pick of the fillies and will love every inch of the 1200m on Saturday. Was a well backed commodity in the prelude before missing the kick and settling last in the run, only to rocket home to go down by just half a length. Was comfortably the sectional star out the race, recording the fastest last 600/200m splits, her last 200m (11.57) even comparable to group sprinters Super Cash and Merchant Navy (11.49) who both ran on the same day over the same distance. Her racing pattern can invite more bad luck than good but if she gets the breaks expect her to really be charging at them late.
As the market suggests, this year's Blue Diamond is wide open and should produce a cracking contest come Saturday. If you're having a bet, don't forget about BlueBet's money back special, where if your horse runs 2nd or 3rd we'll refund* your bet as cash up to $50! *T&Cs apply. Not available to NSW & SA residents.
BLUE DIAMOND TIPS
1. Written By $10
2. Plague Stone $7.50
3. Prairie Fire $9
4. Oohood $7.50
For the latest Blue Diamond betting odds, click here.
Other Group 1 markets including the Futurity Stakes & Oakleigh Plate are also available here.
