Horse Racing

The race towards the 2012 Blue Diamond Stakes next month is now well and truly on with nominations taken for the opening lead-up events, the Blue Diamond Previews at Caulfield on Thursday January 26.

Melbourne Cup Day winner Applegate is set to race next-up in the Blue Diamond Fillies Preview on Australia Day

Held as part of the always popular Australia Day Races in Melbourne are two Blue Diamond Previews, one for the colts and geldings and a separate race for the $1 million Group 1 Blue Diamond Stakes (1200m) bound fillies.

This year the $100,000 Listed Patinack Farm Blue Diamond Fillies Preview (1000m) attracted plenty of early interest with 20 nominations.

While last year’s Blue Diamond winning trainer Peter Snowden, who took out the Blue Diamond Series Triple Crown with his ace colt Sepoy, is without an entry in the 2012 Blue Diamond Preview (Colts & Geldings), he has a livewire chance in the fillies’ equivalent with Applegate.

Applegate is one of five previous winners featuring in the Blue Diamond Preview (Fillies) nominations, the daughter of Exceed And Excel having narrowly held on to defeat the Gerald Ryan-trained Snitzerland in the Listed Emirates Airline Plate (1000m) in her big debt at Flemington on Melbourne Cup Day.

In the futures betting for the Blue Diamond Stakes at Luxbet, Applegate is one of the top early fancies at a quote of $13, a price that is set to firm if she emulates her top-rated older stablemate Sepoy in winning the Blue Diamond Preview next week.

The next best-backed filly in the 2012 Blue Diamond Stakes odds at Luxbet currently that is nominated for the BD Preview is the Robert Smerdon-trained Members Joy.

A nicely-bred daughter of Hussonet out of Flying Spur mare Rosa’s Spur, Members Joy burst into Blue Diamond calculations back on November 26 at Sandown when she easily won her first race start by two and a half lengths over 900 metres.

That, and her previous two and a half length barrier trail win over 800m at Cranbourne, were run on Slow ground and how she handles a firmer track will be crucial to her chances this autumn.

Other genuine Blue Diamond Preview (Fillies) entries and their current futures price to continue on and win the grand final next month include:

• Sabie ($26 Luxbet) – Unbeaten Exceed And Excel filly has won both of her starts to date, debuted at Cranbourne in fine style with an easy five length win before her equally impressive two and a half length victory at Moonee Valley when carrying 59kg over 1000m on January 13
• Agueda ($31 Luxbet) – Anthony Cummings-trained daughter of General Nediym has raced twice before when third at Kembla Grange in December before her brave second beaten four lengths by Gai Waterhouse’s spruik Blue Diamond Stakes favourite Raceway ($4.40 Luxbet) at Warwick Farm on January 7
• Malasun ($41 Luxbet) – Unraced Mick Price-trained Red Ransom filly
• Princeton Miss ($51 Luxbet) – Not A Single Doubt filly from Robbie Griffiths’ Cranbourne stables, was second to Jimando first-up in the Listed Inglis Debutants Stakes (1000m) in October but was spelled after failing next-up when 14^th to Applegate on Melbourne Cup Day

Two other previous winners among the 2012 Blue Diamond Fillies Preview nominations are Kane Harris’ Bel Esprit filly Little Ducati who won at Morphettville on January 7, and five-length winner on debut in the Thomas North Plate (1100m) on the same day Sweet Little Lies, neither of which currently feature in the Blue Diamond Stakes entries.

Final fields for the Caulfield Australia Day races, including those for the Blue Diamond Previews, are due out next Tuesday with Races.com.au to publish the full acceptances.

In the meantime, head to our preferred bookie Luxbet to access their exclusive ante-post Blue Diamond Stakes odds and enjoy a $400 bonus bet on the house as a new depositing punter that quotes the code BONUSBET!

2012 Blue Diamond Preview (Fillies) Nominations

Caulfield 26/01/2012