Clinton McDonald’s tenacious filly Hayasugi defied her big price to make history as just the second of her kind to take out a series clean sweep backing up from her Preview – Prelude double success to charge home late in the 2024 Blue Diamond Stakes results.

2024 Blue Diamond Stakes winner Hayasugi was outstanding late flashing home to complete an historic series treble. Photo: Ultimate Racing Photos.

Midnight Fever (1987) was previously the only filly to claim the Blue Diamond race treble, a feat repeated this Melbourne Autumn Racing Carnival by sensational Royal Meeting two-year-old Hayasugi.

The bonny bay claimed narrow victories in her two lead-up Blue Diamond races at the track and was forgotten by the punters for the $2 million Group 1 going around at around 20/1 as she went up to 1200m fit third-up against the colts and geldings.

As it turned out, the boys never featured in this year’s Blue Diamond result with Hayasugi leading all all-filly first four.

The result may have surprised the punters, but it didn’t surprise winning trainer McDonald who was thrilled to see his pre-race confidence rewarded.

“She’s determined. She’s tough,” he said.

“I thought her last win was fantastic. She had no favours again.

“I’ve never been so confident coming to the races with a horse. It was a faultless preparation, she looked magnificent. It was just unreal.”

Jockey Jamie Kah just missed out on Revolutionary Miss in the race two years ago but today was able to add the Blue Diamond trophy to her growing Group 1 CV with a fast finishing effort over the final 50m.

“I still can’t believe it. This filly, I don’t know how she does it. She gave them plenty of head start, she was wide again, she just finds a way. She’s just so tough. She’s amazing,” Kah told Racing.com.

“I thought she’d give it her all, a top three hope.

“I gave her a good chance, but every race, she just keeps proving me wrong.

“I thought she was a good horse but I didn’t think she was that good!”

The widely-drawn Spywire led the Blue Diamond field around throughout before tiring at the top of the straight.

After racing on speed the entire trip one the outside of the front runner, the Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott-trained Written Tycoon filly Lady Of Camelot knuckled down to race away at the 200m.

She was getting weary late however and that’s when Kah came flashing home running right of the top of her rivals with a brilliant charge on the underrated Blue Diamond Stakes winner.

The Blue Diamond still eludes Waterhouse who had to settle for her fourth placing with Group 3 Widden Stakes winner Lady Of Camelot ($4.40) holding for second in a gallant effort behind Hayasugi ($16).

Rounding out the Blue Diamond Stakes trifecta in third was the Prelude runner-up from South Australia Kuroyanagi ($11), while the Peter Moody & Katherine Coleman-trained Eneeza off her Group 3 Chairman’s Stakes second finished fourth.

Chairman’s Stakes winner Coleman went around as favourite but was one of the big disappointments of the race finishing well out of the money in 13^th.

McDonald was quick to confirm autumn plans to head up to Sydney with Hayasugi who will chase a rare Group 1 two-year-old double in the $4.92 million Golden Slipper Stakes (1200m) at Rosehill on March 23^rd.

McDonald’s father won the Blue Diamond – Golden Slipper double back in 1989 with Courtza and he now looks to emulate the feat.

Sepoy (2011) meanwhile was the last juvenile to back-up from a Blue Diamond win in Melbourne to claim the Golden Slipper Stakes.

All-in 2024 Golden Slipper Stakes odds at Ladbrokes.com.au on Hayasugi to be the next are into $21 with full markets available here.

2024 Blue Diamond Stakes Results & Finishing Order

Table Credit: Racing Australia.

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