Lindsay Park’s promising young filly Formality will take her next step towards the 2017 Blue Diamond Stakes when she takes to the Caulfield track in Saturday’s Ladbrokes Chairman’s Stakes.

Craig Williams will ride 2017 Blue Diamond Stakes hope Formality in the Ladbrokes Chairman’s Stakes at Caulfield on Saturday. Photo: Ultimate Racing Photos.

The two-year-old daughter of Fastnet Rock took out her race debut on January 5 with an easy four and a half-length success over 1100m at Werribee.

That victory as the odds-on favourite caught the attention of the bookmakers and form experts, the David & Ben Hayes and Tom Dabernig-trained filly elevated into a prominent spot in early markets for the $1.5 million Group 1 Ladbrokes Blue Diamond Stakes (1200m).

Current all-in Blue Diamond Stakes odds at Ladbrokes.com.au for the February 25 classic have Formality listed as a $15 fancy.

That price will firm if she retains her undefeated status with a second career win this weekend in the $150,000 Group 3 Ladbrokes Chairman’s Stakes (1000m).

The set weights plus penalties sprint for juveniles is a traditional Blue Diamond lead-up and drew a final field of nine hopefuls this Melbourne Autumn Racing Carnival.

Formality is drawn wide out in gate eight with Craig Williams coming aboard in place of Mark Zahra who rode her to victory in the impressive debut against her own kind a month back and who is on stablemate Feng Chu ($16) from barrier one in the same race on Saturday.

Current Chairman’s Stakes odds have Formality as the clear $3 fancy with improvement expected from the untapped young gun who was purchased for $120,000 at last year’s Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale by Coolmore.

It’s a price Dabernig hopes the filly can live-up to and give the stable a firm idea of where she is at heading towards Blue Diamond Stakes Day.

“Often you can get a bit of a rude shock with the difference between races at this time of year,” he told AAP.

“But we’ll certainly get an idea of where she is at on Saturday.

“She’s a horse that is bred to get a little bit of a trip but she’s built more like a sprinter.”

The staying pedigree comes from her dam Jolie’s Shinju, a Japanese-bred mare who won Singapore’s Triple Crown including the Singapore Derby over 2000m, and who placed at Moonee Valley during the 2009 spring carnival.

“She’ll want to be pretty near her top to be winning or running a close second to know where we are at,” Dabernig added.

“But I think she’s where we want her to be.”

Formality’s biggest rivals on Saturday shape-up as the Clinton McDonald-trained Snitzel filly Spoils ($5) who comes off a fourth in the Blue Diamond Fillies Preview and Tony McEvoy’s returning Nicconi filly Time Awaits ($5.50) who enjoyed a soft win on debut in Adelaide last October.

Formality’s co-trainer David Hayes has enjoyed five Blue Diamond Stakes victories in the past 30 years with: Mahaasin (1990), Canonise (1991), Nadeem (2006), Sleek Chassis (2007) and most recently Reaan (2008).

To back Formality this weekend in the Ladbrokes Chairman’s Stakes 2017 head to race sponsor Ladbrokes.com.au who are offering Odds Boost Extra on the race (T&Cs apply).