This race has been won by some terrific horses in recent years, but the favourite does look a touch of unders at around even money and given the case that can be made for several runners, I am happy to take him on.
Midterm recorded several pleasing results last time in and rates highly first-up with Ben Melham aboard. Macedon Lodge typically have their horses ready to go first-up and the Galileo gelding has plenty of options from the rails draw.
1 Unit Midterm
Aramayo won the Spring Stakes last time in and worked home well to finish fourth in the Autumn Stakes first-up a fortnight ago. There is no doubt that he’ll take plenty of improvement from that run and should relish the step up to 1800m, while the booking of Hugh Bowman to ride is also a big plus.
Cossetot faces a step up in class into this Autumn Classic field but did everything right on his way to a comfortable win in the Tasmanian Derby last time out and looks good enough to go on with the job. Craig Williams has plenty of options from the rails draw and the horse is rock-hard fit for this assignment.
2 Units Aramayo
1 Unit Cossetot
This looks like being a great edition of the Mannerism Stakes and there is a case to be made for several horses in the market.
Teleplay took up the running in the Bellmaine Stakes last time out and did weaken late, but she’ll have stripped fitter for the hit-out and looks up to a race of this quality. The four-year-old stamped herself as a horse to follow in spring and ended her preparation with a smart win on Cup Day, at a big price. She is on a path towards the Queen Of The Turf Stakes and can record her second Stakes win here.
1 Unit Teleplay
This is shaping as one of the more open races on the Blue Diamond Stakes Day card and there is a host of winning chances in the eleven-strong field.
Perth raider Angelic Ruler brings a unique form line into the race but was a comfortable winner of the Rangeview Stud Classic at Listed level last time out and has finished outside of the places only once in nine career starts.
Futooh typically improves with racing and looks capable of winning this race second-up after a decent performance for fourth in the Group 3 Kevin Hayes Stakes a fortnight ago. The Sebring filly is drawn to receive a nice run in behind the pace from barrier 4 and is up to winning a race of this calibre.
1.5 Units Futooh
Zousain finished second in the Golden Rose and the Coolmore in spring and is clearly the horse to beat first-up in the Zeditave Stakes. The Zoustar colt has been a strong and consistent performer for Chris Waller throughout his racing career and has form around some of his age group’s best horses. He has opened an odds-on favourite, however and there is simply no value left so I am happy to stay out of this from a betting perspective.
No Bet
The Futurity is usually the least-hyped Group 1 race on Blue Diamond Stakes Day but this year’s edition is set to be an outstanding contest.
There is a case to be made for nearly every horse in the twelve-strong field but happy to be with the favourite, Alizee. Alizee is a multiple Group 1 winner and only appears to have improved this time in, having easily won both the Christmas Classic and Expressway Stakes so far. The wide barrier isn’t a concern and bad luck looks the only real danger.
4 Units Alizee
The Ladbrokes Blue Diamond Stakes has been a terrific betting race in recent years and that is certainly the case again in 2019.
The fillies’ contingent does look to have an edge over the colts & geldings this year and the Godolphin-trained Lyre looks capable of securing a maiden Group 1 win in the Blue Diamond. Lyre was fair to the line down the Flemington straight on debut but has continued to improve with racing and was an impressive winner of the Prelude race for fillies a fortnight ago.
Hawker Hurricane shook off the cobwebs with a credible performance for third in the colts & geldings prelude and will take plenty of benefit into this race. The son of Deep Field stamped himself as a colt to follow when he debuted for a tough win in the Clockwise Classic at Ballarat in November.
2 Units Lyre
1 Unit Hawker Hurricane
The Oakleigh Plate is generally one of the most open Group 1 features of the entire Autumn Carnival and with the exception of Nature Strip, not one horse has opened at a quote of less-than $10. Nature Strip has been a strong and consistent performer throughout his entire racing career so far but went to another level while under the care of Darren Weir in spring and recorded four-consecutive wins. His first run for Chris Waller in the Rubiton Stakes at this track and distance a fortnight ago was bullish and worryingly for every other horse in this field, he should only improve. There are some quality horses in this field, but he’s drawn beautifully and looks a genuine star.
5 Units Nature Strip
The quality of this Peter Young Stakes field suggests we’re in for an excellent edition of the Australian Cup in two weeks’ time. While there is a case to be made for many horses in this field finding their way into the winner’s stall, Avilius does look extremely tough to beat under the conditions of the race. The Pivotal gelding won each of his first four starts upon debuting for James Cummings in spring before a credible performance for fourth behind Winx in the Cox Plate. He justified favouritism with a comfortable win in the Group 3 Carlyon Cup first-up and will appreciate the increase in trip.
4 Units Avilius