Mornington trainer Matt Laurie has made the decision to bypass the Blue Diamond Prelude at Caulfield this weekend with his BD Preview winner The Travelling Man, the smart Mossman colt to go straight into the Blue Diamond Stakes 2012 on February 25.
2012 Blue Diamond Stakes Odds
The Travelling Man was the most notable absentee from Monday’s 15 nominations for the $125,000 Group 3 Blue Diamond Colts & Geldings Prelude (1100m), running at Caulfield on CF Orr Stakes Day Saturday.
After a fourth to one-time Blue Diamond Stakes betting favourite Jimando in the Listed Inglis Debutants Stakes (1000m) at Caulfield last October, The Travelling Man resumed on Australia Day to claim an upset one and a quarter length win in the Listed Blue Diamond Preview (1000m).
As there were just nine horses in the Diamond Preview, The Travelling Man was automatically ineligible for the $1 million Blue Diamond Series bonus awarded to any two-year-old that wins the Preview – Prelude and the $1 million Group 1 Blue Diamond Stakes triple.
This made the decision not to race in the Prelude an easier one for Laurie who is confident The Travelling Man is fit enough to have a month between their Preview win and the Blue Diamond Stakes main event.
“I just don’t think he needs three runs in six weeks,” Laurie explained.
“There is only so many runs you can get out of a two-year-old and I don’t want to waste one on something that is not imperative.”
Laurie has, however, penciled in a barrier trial for The Travelling Man next week.
In the latest Blue Diamond Stakes odds at Luxbet, Blue Diamond Fillies Preview winner Malasun is the current $6 favourite.
She is set to dominate the weekend’s markets for the Blue Diamond Prelude (Fillies) which attracted 16 early entries and is also the sole horse still in contention for the bonus.
Further down the Blue Diamond Stakes betting punters can find The Travelling Man who pays $9 at Luxbet.
Blue Diamond markets are likely to undergo another shake-up following the results of the two Blue Diamond Preludes this Saturday.
Of the early entries for the colts and geldings Prelude on Saturday, the shortest-priced in the BD Stakes futures at Luxbet is Peter Snowden’s Elusive quality colt Rusambo at $18 followed by Listed Superracing Stakes winner Cambiaso ($21 Luxbet) and dual stakes placegetter Andre Roo Hoo ($51 Luxbet).
Stay tuned to Races.com.au for all the Caulfield final race fields due out tomorrow.
Now is the time to get behind your early Blue Diamond tips and picks at Luxbet before markets firm after the weekend race results.
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2012 Blue Diamond Prelude (Colts & Geldings) Nominations
Caulfield – 11/02/2012
| # | Horse | Trainer | Ballot | Weight | Hcp. Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | ALPINE COUNTRY | Damien Walkley | 10= | 55.5kg | - |
| 2 | ANDRE ROO HOO | Robbie Laing | 3 | 55.5kg | 66 |
| 3 | BOOM BABY BOOM | Anthony Freedman | 10= | 55.5kg | - |
| 4 | CAMBIASO | Danny O’Brien | 1 | 55.5kg | 72 |
| 5 | EXOGRAM | Peter G Moody | 10= | 55.5kg | - |
| 6 | FERMENT | John P Thompson | 2 | 55.5kg | 68 |
| 7 | GENERAL RIPPA | David Hayes | 10= | 55.5kg | - |
| 8 | GREENWICH | Michael, Wayne & John Hawkes | 10= | 55.5kg | - |
| 9 | MAGNUS REIGN | Rick Hore-Lacy | 6 | 55.5kg | 61 |
| 10 | MISSION IMPOSSIBLE | Rick Hore-Lacy | 10= | 55.5kg | - |
| 11 | NO SMOKEN | Clinton McDonald | 5 | 55.5kg | 66 |
| 12 | PLANET VOYAGE | Peter G Moody | 7 | 55.5kg | 64 |
| 13 | RUSAMBO | Peter Snowden | 4 | 55.5kg | 66 |
| 14 | SIGMUND | John P Thompson | 8 | 55.5kg | 60 |
| 15 | WEEKEND GETAWAY | David Hayes | 9 | 55.5kg | 60 |
