Earlier this week the Melbourne Racing Club released the list of 2012 Blue Diamond Stakes second declarations, the list of hopeful two-year-olds heading towards the $1 million showdown in February cut from 536 to 165.
One of Australia’s premier juvenile races, the Group 1 Patinack Farm Blue Diamond Stakes (1200m) is scheduled to run at Caulfield Racecourse on Saturday February 25 as part of the elite racing action of the 2012 Melbourne Autumn Racing Carnival.
Patinack Farm owner-operator Nathan Tinkler will be vying to take out his own prize money this year with 19 juveniles still in contention.
One behind with 18 representatives in the 2012 Blue Diamond Stakes second acceptances is Darley Racing who took out the feature last year with the Peter Snowden-trained superstar and subsequent Golden Slipper hero Sepoy.
Sepoy, who is Dubai World Cup Carnival bound this year, is a son of boom sire Elusive Quality.
There are three Elusive Quality offspring still in the Blue Diamond Stakes entries at second declaration stage with the John Thompson-trained Listed Maribyrnong Plate (1000m) winner Real Stolle, and the Snowden-trained Rusambo and Drive.
Along with Real Stolle other notable stakes winners among the Blue Diamond chances include Snowden’s Melbourne Cup Day winning Exceed And Excel filly Applegate and the Gai Watehouse-trained Lonhro colt Pierro who won the Listed Thoroughbred Breeders Plate (1000m) at Randwick on October 1.
Waterhouse also recently uncovered another genuine Blue Diamond Stakes candidate in Raceway, the More Than Ready gelding destroying his rivals by four lengths in his debut appearance in the Warwick Farm 100 Club Plate (1000m) on January 7.
A number of the Blue Diamond 2012 hopefuls will race this Saturday in the $2 million Magic Millions Classic (1200m) on the Gold Coast including the David Hayes-trained Mrs Gray ($41 Luxbet), Waterhouse’s Redoute’s Choice filly No Looking Back ($16 Luxbet) and Tony McEvoy’s well tried Little Critter ($61 Luxbet).
Angaston-based trainer McEvoy has paid up for five from his stables including Commands colt Jimando who won the Listed Inglis Debutants Stakes (1000m) by an eye-catching three and a half lengths on debut at Caulfield on October 12.
Meanwhile in Melbourne this Saturday Flemington Racecourse will be host to a three unraced Blue Diamond Stakes entries racing for the first time in the $70,000 Better Beyond Plate (1000m) – Flemington Race 1 @ 12:35pm.
Of the trio the Anthony Freedman-trained Yellow Jersey is the top-rated, described by stable rep Lee Freedman as a “beautifully bred” “strapping horse”, the others being Purrealist colt Adjuster and the Snowden-trained Paniolo, a son of Flying Spur.
The next stage of Blue Diamond Stakes declarations will be third acceptances taken on Tuesday January 31.
Blue Diamond Stakes 2012 Declarations Dates
- Third Declaration: 12 NOON, Tuesday, 31 January, 2012: Fee of $660
- Second Late Entry OR RE-ENTRY: Any horse which was not a third acceptor may be nominated or re-nominated in the Patinack Farm Blue Diamond Stakes before 12 NOON on Monday, 20 February, 2012 accompanied by a fee of $55,000. Any horse nominated under this condition will also be liable for the Final Acceptance Fee
- Final Declaration: 9am, Tuesday, 21 February, 2012: Fee of $5,500
- Final Declaration OF RIDERS: 12 NOON, Wednesday, 22 February, 2012
Stay tuned to Races.com.au over the coming weeks to stay up-to-date with all the latest Blue Diamond Stakes field updates.
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