Hanseatic may be the firm favourite but the money is coming in Blue Diamond Stakes 2020 betting for the filly Letzbeglam as the punters tip the Prelude form to stack up in Saturday’s Group 1 at Caulfield.
In the past decade, just three Blue Diamond Stakes winners came off a lead-up race other than one of the Prelude events: Extreme Choice (Chairman’s Stakes win in 2016), Miracles Of Life (Blue Diamond Preview win in 2013) and Star Witness (Talindert Stakes win in 2010).
The money is on the traditional form line to stack up again this Melbourne Autumn Racing Carnival when a class field of two-year-olds face off in the Group 1 $1.5 million Neds Blue Diamond Stakes (1200m).
Undefeated Street Boss colt Hanseatic from the powerhouse Godolphin stable is favourite in the Blue Diamond Stakes odds at a steady $2.50 through Ladbrokes.com.au.
Trainer Anthony Freedman and jockey Luke Currie chase back-to-back Blue Diamond victories following their success with the filly Lyre (2019) 12 months ago and look to have a strong chance with Hanseatic.
The chestnut has won all three of his starts including the Preview – Prelude lead-up races in excellent fashion, but has drawn the less-than-ideal inside barrier for the big one on the weekend.
Following the Blue Diamond Stakes barrier draw, there has been a shift on the Trent Busuttin & Natalie Young-trained Letzbeglam to frank the form out of the Fillies Prelude race.
Backing-up from her impressive win on debut at Werribee in late January, the nicely-bred daughter of Snitzel scored an upset at big odds defeating Muntaseera by over two lengths in the Caulfield Group 2 event on February 8.
There have been five Blue Diamond Stakes winning fillies in the past decade, four of which came off a win in the Prelude, which bodes well for Letzbeglam in gate three this weekend.
“She jumped from barrier nine in the Prelude and sat three-deep without cover so I think barrier three is going to be completely in her favour,” co-trainer Natalie Young told Racenet on Tuesday.
“She has come on since that race (the Prelude) and she did a lovely piece of work on the course proper this morning and she pulled up really well.
“She came around the corner after she had been hosed and tried to kick my head off so she’s jumping around.”
Letzbeglam is into $7.50 in Blue Diamond Stakes betting and occupies the third line following Hanseatic and Rulership ($6).
Prepared by Peter & Paul Snowden, I Am Invincible colt Rulership was a debut winner at Randwick on January 25 before his eye-catching second to Hanseatic in the Prelude for colts and geldings.
Finishing off well that day he was only a quarter-length beaten and from a gun barrier seven draw in the rematch could be the one with the more upside as he looks to turn the tables on his last start conqueror.
At $11 the only other potential dangers according to bookmakers are Magic Millions Classic winning filly Away Game chasing her fourth win on the trot and the fellow Ciaron Maher & David Eustace-trained filly Muntaseera coming off a first-up second in the Prelude.
Click here for the latest Blue Diamond Stakes 2020 odds courtesy of Ladbrokes.com.au.
