Horse Racing

Local Caulfield horseman Mick Price will shoot for an early 2012 Blue Diamond Trifecta when he lines up three smart fillies in the $125,000 Group 3 Patinck Farm Blue Diamond Fillies Prelude (1100m) on CF Orr Stakes Day this Saturday.

Applegate is one of 12 top fillies to race in the 2012 Blue Diamond Prelude on Saturday

Due to jump as Race 3 of 9 at 2:00pm (VIC time) on Saturday, the 2012 Blue Diamond Prelude (Fillies) has drawn a classy field of 12 two-year-old fillies lead by Blue Diamond Preview winner Malasun.

The daughter of Red Ransom claimed an upset win in the BD Fillies Preview on debut at Caulfield back on January 26, shaking up the futures Luxbet markets for the $1 million Group 1 Blue Diamond Stakes (1200m) to run on February 25.

Malasun now leads the Blue Diamond Stakes 2012 odds at a quote of $6 through Luxbet, a price sure to firm if she backs up with another victory on Saturday.

She is also the sole horses still eligible for the $1 million Blue Diamond Series bonus.

Adding to Malasun’s joy is her favourable barrier two draw for Saturday.

“She’s on her first racing preparation and I thought that she was quite green at her first start and that it would mean four weeks and two days between runs, so she’s fit and well and it just makes sense to run her this week,” Price said.

Price is also represented in the Prelude by another undefeated filly Samaready out wide in barrier 10 as well as the unraced Tuscan Haze.

Samaready won her Flemington debut back on December 17 and is rated a $10 Blue Diamond Stakes chance while Tuscan Haze, a nicely bred daughter of Flying Spur out of Red Ransom mare Halibery, is at $19 in the futures markets despite not having had a run.

While Malasun is the obvious favourite, Price this week named Samaready has his best Blue Diamond chance, but warned punters that he didn’t always get these things spot-on.

“If I had to have a guess – and there’s not much at all between them – I’d lean to Samaready,” he said.

“She might have been on her way down when she won at Flemington at her debut as she’d been lying down a lot that week, but she’s had a nice little break since and I think she’s improved a lot.

“She’s definitely improved since last time. She’s flying.

“Samaready to beat Malasun to beat Tuscan Haze.”

Price’s trio face a top-class field of rivals on Saturday with plenty of other genuine chances.

Leading the field is the Anthony Cummings-trained Diamond Earth who has suffered an early blow drawing the ‘visitor’s gate’ 12 of 12.

Winner of the Inglis Banner – Inglis Nursery double, the diminutive but determined daughter of Choisir was last seen finishing a neck away second to Cavalry Rose in the Inglis Classic (1200m) at Rosehill.

Not currently entered for the Blue Diamond Stakes grand final, Cummings is still hoping for a win on Saturday which would prompt him to suggest connections pay the hefty late entry to get her into the race.

Other exciting fillies in the race include the John Thompson-trained Group 3 winner Real Stolle, Chairman’s Stakes runner-up Formidable, BD Preview second placegetter Members Joy and the Peter Snowden-trained Melbourne Cup Day winner Applegate.

The results of both the fillies and the colts & geldings Blue Diamond Preludes this Saturday are to have a major impact on the Blue Diamond Stakes odds at Luxbet, so get behind your favourites now before prices firm.

Sign up with Luxbet and access all the hottest autumn racing odds and also receive a $400 bonus bet as a first-time depositing customer that quotes the code BONUSBET!

2012 Patinack Farm Blue Diamond Prelude (Fillies) Field & Barriers

Caulfield Race 3 – 2:00pm (VIC time) – 11/02/2012