Blue Diamond Stakes Day Preview

Enthaar – Blue Diamond Favourite

I have been attending Blue Diamond Stakes Day since 2012 and hope to be present for this year’s edition.

The recent five day Covid 19  stage 4 restrictions have now thankfully been relaxed and the Caulfield Races will go ahead with racing fans permitted to attend. 

Some restrictions will still be in place and hopefully will be the same as those on Orr Stakes day where we were allowed on the fence and could photograph the races.

With a  great program of races, including three Group 1 events, it would be disappointing to miss.

Chief among the events is of course the Blue Diamond Stakes, where a field of 11 colts and geldings and 5 fillies will be fighting for Group 1 glory.

Enthaar, who I recently witnessed winning the Chairman’s Stakes is the natural favourite having won that race with consummate ease. Other fillies with a good chance are Dosh (now scratched) and Arcaded, recent winners of the Blue Diamond Preview and Prelude.  General Beau, who won both of the colts Preview and Prelude and also has the services of top jockey Jamie Kah, is the pick of the colts.  Anamoe, Ingratiating and Jigsaw are also worthy of consideration. As it’s a race for two year old's anything could happen, but I envisage that the any one of the aforementioned will be in picture at the end.

General Beau winning the Blue Diamond Preview

The Futurity Stakes (1400 metres) has attracted a sensational field that includes Spring stars Behemoth, Arcadia Queen, and Probabeel, plus classy three year old’s Ole Kirk and Crosshaven.  But the in form and fit Streets pf Avalon could well triumph again at his favourite track and distance.  I’m really keen to see Arcadia Queen and Behemoth in the flesh for the first time.

A huge field of 18 runners has accepted for the third Group 1, the Oakleigh Plate, a sprint over 1200 metres. There are many chances, but I am looking forward to seeing Western Australian mare Celebrity Queen at her first outing in the Eastern States.

Tomorrow’s weather is expected to be hot and humid; not really comfortable if one is obliged to wear a mask all afternoon, but the excellent racing card will make it worth the effort. Photography has the benefit of distracting one from less than ideal conditions.