Nominations for all the 2011 Blue Diamond Stakes Day features have been released with 15 three-year-olds making up the early entries for the $180,000 Group 2 The Yalumba 162 (1800m).

Previously registered and known as the Autumn Classic, the 2011 The Yalumba 162 is one of seven group races set to light-up Caulfield Racecourse this Saturday, February 26.

The headline event of the meet is the $1 million Group 1 Blue Diamond Stakes (1200m) where Sepoy is the odds-on favourite to win Melbourne’s premier two-year-olds’ showdown.

Often used as a lead-up for the Group 1 Australian Cup (2000m) at Flemington in a fortnights’ time, this year’s Autumn Classic entries are lead by the Danny O’Brien-trained Placement.

Savabeel filly Placement may be yet to win a race from her 13 career starts to date, but she has placed at Group level more than once.

During the spring Placement was twice beaten by Brazilian Pulse when second in the Group 2 Wakeful Stakes (2000m) at Flemington on Derby Day and then third in the Group 1 Crown Oaks (2500m) the following Thursday.

If accepted for the Autumn Classic on Saturday, Placement will advantage from the step down in class and being second-up for the season.

Other noteworthy 2011 The Yalumba 162 / Autumn Classic nominees include:

• Almindoro (Steve Richards) – Redoute’s Choice gelding placed at Group level during the spring when second to Retrieve in the Norman Robinson Stakes (2000m), won a maiden race over 1519m at Moonee Valley last start on February 11 beating Placement

• Diamond Jim (David Payne) – Seeking their third win on the trot after back-to-back success over 1600m at Warwick Farm earlier this month

• Kim Divine (Bart Cummings) – Improving God’s Own gelding coming off two successive wins at Canterbury and who looks well-suited to the distance

• Meaisin (Danny O’Brien) – Up-and-coming Zabeel gelding who has recently shown promise earning a step up to Group company for the first time

The Yalumba 162 Autumn Classic final field will be released on Wednesday and published here at Races.com.au along with the other Blue Diamond Stakes Day fields and barriers.

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2011 The Yalumba 162 – Autumn Classic Nominations