2010 Blue Diamond Stakes Final Field & Preview – Tricky Tricky Scratched

On Saturday the coveted $1million Group 1 Arrowfield Stud Blue Diamond Stakes (1200m) will be the highlight event in an action packed day of racing at Melbourne’s Caulfield Racecourse.

This year the Blue Diamond Stakes will be contested by fifteen sensational two-year-olds all vying for the esteemed title of 2010 Blue Diamond Stakes winner, setting themselves up as the most exciting and promising young thoroughbred in the country.

There was originally a capacity field of 16 engaged for the race but the Leon Corstens-trained Tricky Tricky was scratched from the race. The scratching of Tricky Tricky sees the Robbie Laing-trained She’s Got Gears move into the coveted barrier one.

Beneteau will start the race as the warm favourite following his impressive Blue Diamond Prelude (C&G) win on February 6. He is currently at odds of $3.30 with Sportsbet. The unbeaten colt, trained by Paul Messara, will start from barrier eight as he aims for his third successive win.

Sharing second favouritism are Star Witness and Psychologist at $7.50.

The Danny O’Brien-trained Star Witness is another unbeaten colt having won his two career starts but has drawn wide on Saturday and will start from barrier 14.

Psychologist, trained by Tony Vasil, is the top rated filly of the field following her winning debut in the Blue Diamond Prelude (F). Psychologist has also drawn poorly and will start on the far outside in barrier 15.

The stocks of the Peter Snowden-trained Secession further increased with the scratching of Tricky Tricky, the Merson Cooper Stakes winning son of Lonhro now starting from barrier four in the Blue Diamond with Kerrin McEvoy aboard.

There are an incredible six other group status races held on the day including the $400, 000 Group 1 Oakleigh Plate (1100m) where the Peter Moody-trained Wanted aims for that elusive Group 1 win.

Other highlights at the meeting are the $200, 000 Group 2 St George Stakes (1800m) contested by a star-studded field including Melbourne Cup winner Shocking, Heart Of Dreams and the Bart Cummings-trained Viewed; and the $180, 000 Group 2 Angus Armanasco Stakes (1400m) where David Hayes’ top filly Irish Lights comes up against the likes of No Evidence Needed and the Greg Eurell-trained Misty Blue.

There are also two quality Group 3 races run as part of the programme, the $125, 000 Carlyon Cup (1400m) and the $125, 000 Mannerism Stakes (1400m).

More information and all the latest news on the 2010 Blue Diamond Stakes can be found by clicking on the race name.

The Arrowfield Stud Blue Diamond Stakes is scheduled as race seven and is due to commence at 4:00pm (EST).

2010 Blue Diamond Stakes Final Field & Barrier Draw:

No.	Horse	Trainer	Jockey	Br.	Weight (kg)
1	GENERAL TRUCE	Ricky Maund	Andrew Mallyon	13	55.5
2	STAR WITNESS	Danny O’Brien	Nicholas Hall	14	55.5
3	BENETEAU	Paul Messara	Daniel Ganderton	8	55.5
4	SECESSION	Peter Snowden	Kerrin McEvoy	4	55.5
5	BIT OF A DUDE	Stuart Gower	Michael Hoppo	7	55.5
6	SPIRIT CENT	John Leek Jnr.	Michelle Payne	12	55.5
7	LEGALISTIC	David Hayes	Brad Rawiller	11	55.5
8	SHE’S GOT GEARS	Robbie Lang	Craig Williams	1	53.5
9	SWEET CHEEKS	John McArdle	Damien Oliver	3	53.5
10	CRYSTAL LILY	M Ellerton & S Zahra	Chris Symons	10	53.5
11	ROULETTES	M, W & J Hawkes	Steven King	2	53.5
12	PSYCHOLOGIST	Tony Vasil	Mark Zahra	15	53.5
13	SHAAHEQ	David Hayes	Danny Nikolic	5	53.5
14	EVIDENTIA	David Hayes	Brett Prebble	6	53.5
15	WILLOW CREEK	Peter G Moody	Luke Nolen	9	53.5

Caulfield Race Programme – Saturday February 20, 2010:

Race #	Race Name	Status	Stakes	Distance	Time (EST)
1	Luxury Preferred Handicap	–	$70, 000	1100m	12:15pm
2	Clamms Seafood Classic	–	$70, 000	1200m	12:50pm
3	Rokk Ebony Carlyon Cup	Gr.3	$125, 000	1400m	1:30pm
4	BMW Angus Armanasco Stakes	Gr.2	$180, 000	1400m	2:05pm
5	D’urban Stakes	Gr.2	$180, 000	1400m	2:40pm
6	Pure Blonde St George Stakes	Gr.2	$200, 000	1800m	3:20pm
7	Arrowfield Stud Blue Diamond Stakes	Gr.1	$1,000,000	1200m	4:00pm
8	Sportingbet Oakleigh Plate	Gr.1	$400,000	1100m	4:40pm
9	TBV Mannerism Stakes	Gr.3	$125, 000	1400m	5:20pm