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In breaking news ahead of Saturday’s 2026 Blue Diamond Stakes at Caulfield, the long-time favourite Big Sky has been scratched from the $2 million feature paving the way for Unit Five to shoot to the top of betting for the juvenile’s feature.

Big Sky was scratched from the event due to a knee issue and concerns about his action identified on the eve of the race.

The boom Mick Price & Michael Kent Jnr-trained Bivouac colt was well-supported in post-acceptance markets for the Group 1 Blue Diamond Stakes (1200m) to remain undefeated with a third career win.

He was odds-on here at Caulfield last start back in late January saluting in the Group 3 Chairman’s Stakes by a runaway three lengths.

The gun young colt had been the headline act heading into Diamond but will now miss the race, leaving punters to reassess a wide?open edition of the two-year-olds sprint showdown.

Co-trainer Price, who claimed recent Blue Diamond victories with Samaready (2012) and Extreme Choice (2016), said the team weren’t happy with how Big Sky trotted up on Friday morning and will head straight out to the paddock.

While Big Sky had passed the Racing Victoria vet check on Thursday, by Friday morning his action “was not what it should be”, prompting the stable to withdraw him as a precaution.

Reports also note a minor knee flare?up that requires further investigation.

Big Sky’s stablemate Guest House, who Price recently suggested was a better winning chance, remains in contention as a $5 chance from a good gate three draw with Jamie Melham to ride.

The Home Affairs colt won his debut at Cranbourne in late December before racing a close first-up second to Closer To Free in the Group 3 Blue Diamond (C&G) Prelude on February 7.

New favourite in Blue Diamond betting meanwhile is the Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott-trained Unit Five in from $6 to $4.80 through Ladbrokes.com.au.

Like Big Sky, Unit Five has won his opening two career starts and chases a hat-trick on Saturday.

Thomas Stockdale sticks aboard the son of Supido who races for the first time since putting a length on Tornado Valley at the Gold Coast on January 17 in the $3 million Magic Millions 2YO Classic.

The Prelude winning Closer To Free is next best at $7.50 to complete the double for trainer Danny O’Brien, but it is the other single-figure fancy Eternal Warrior who has been the big market mover heavily backed in from $18 to $8.50.

Prepared by Lloyd Kennewell out of Cranbourne, the Extreme Warrior colt saluted here on debut at 40/1 with a narrow Listed Merson Cooper victory last November.

He went around in the boys’ Prelude to run a close third.

He’s drawn wide out in the Group 1 field, from which he’s expected to settle back, but if the pace map works out for him he can absolutely charge home and make his presence felt when it counts.

Of the fillies looking to beat home the boys, Streisand ($10) is the best fancied with Clinton McDonad’s Blue Diamond Fillies Prelude winning daughter of Magnus looking to become the second filly in three years to do the double following on from Hayasugi (2024).

The 2026 Blue Diamond Stakes is set to run as Caulfield Race 8 at 4:15pm (AEDT) on Saturday.

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