Our Blue Diamond Stakes Day preview is set at Caulfield on Saturday when no fewer than three Group 1 feature races are run and won on Blue Diamond Stakes Day.
This year’s Blue Diamond is as open as ever and features a capacity field of juveniles chasing maiden success at the highest level of racing.
Toss in the always exciting Oakleigh Plate, a star-studded edition of the Futurity Stakes, and it really does loom as a day to remember.
I’ve run the rule over all ten races, and you can find all of my Caulfield tips below!
Race 1 - 12:15pm AEDT
HKJC World Pool Handicap (1100m)
In the first of our Blue Diamond Stakes Day tips, Miss Aria is second up and open to plenty of improvement.
The Danny O’Brien-trained mare was a consistent performer last time in, but she clearly needed her first run back this time to tune up.
Blake Shinn rides and the horse should receive every chance in this small field.
1 Unit Miss Aria
Race 2 - 12:45pm AEDT
Senet Gambling Law Experts Handicap (1100m)
Chinqui takes winning form into this contest and rates as a leading contender again in Blue Diamond Stakes Day tipping on the second.
The Harry Angel gelding has improved noticeably with each of three runs back from a break, culminating in an eye-catching performance and easy win on the Heath here last time out.
This is harder, but he gets into the race well and it does look the next logical step to take.
2 Units Chinqui
Race 3 - 1:20pm AEDT
Group 2 Autumn Classic (1800m)
This is a quality edition of the Autumn Classic with several key wining chances engaged, but I am keen to stick with Emphasize until he gives me a reason to jump off.
Emphasize has only made three appearances at the races since debuting, but after filling the minors at Sale at his first start, he’s recorded consecutive victories, including a BM70 race over 2000m here last time.
He’s on a Derby path, and he can continue to stamp himself as a leading contender by winning again.
2 Units Emphasize
Race 4 - 1:55pm AEDT
Group 3 Zeditave Stakes (1200m)
I’m keen to stick with Polyglot third up into the Zeditave Stakes.
Polyglot returned to action for a handy win over 1100m up at Rosehill Gardens last month, while he was just over a head behind the winner in a similar BM72 contest last time out.
Fitter third-up and back into three-year-olds company, this looks a lovely feature for him.
2 Units Polyglot
Race 5 - 2:30pm AEDT
Group 2 Angus Armanasco Stakes (1400m)
Too Darn Lizzie is the one for me in the Angus Armanasco Stakes.
The Too Darn Hot filly hasn’t been seen at the races since November, but she turned in some typically strong efforts throughout her spring prep, winning the Thousand Guineas Prelude here and ended her year third in Group 1 company.
She’s had the benefit of a couple of nice trials ahead of her return and she’s a winner at this point of her preparation previously.
2 Units Too Darn Lizzie
Race 6 - 3:05pm AEDT
Group 3 Mannerism Stakes (1400m)
Another open race will see some talented mares contest the Mannerism Stakes including Grinzinger Belle, who I’ve put on top.
Grinzinger Belle hasn’t been seen at the races since November, but she flashed late to win the Group 2 Let’s Elope Stakes fresh in spring, and she continued to turn in fine performances in strong mares’ company, adding the Ladies Day Vase to her CV in October.
She’s another one that has had the benefit of a couple of trials ahead of this year, while the booking of regular ride Damian Lane adds confidence.
1 Unit Grinzinger Belle
Race 7 - 3:40pm AEDT
Group 1 Futurity Stakes (1400m)
Stars of the Australasian turf will contest this year’s Futurity Stakes, and while Mr Brightside is a fitting favourite under these conditions, I’m going to have something on I Wish I Win.
He’d clearly had enough by the time he finished down the order in The Everest, but I Wish I Win was excellent in the autumn and winter of last year, adding the Kingsford Smith Cup to his mantle most notably.
He flies fresh and I am confident that the booking of Jamie Melham will be a big tick for his chances here – he can settle a little closer to the speed and rattle home as he always does!
2 Units I Wish I Win
Race 8 - 4:15pm AEDT
Group 1 Blue Diamond Stakes (1200m)
The Blue Diamond Stakes is always a highlight of the Melbourne Autumn Carnival and another exciting and capacity field of two-year-olds will step out at Caulfield on Saturday.
She has drawn a little awkwardly in Barrier 12, but I think it’s a perfect Group 1 race for the exciting Tempted.
Tempted debuted with an eye-catching performance and win over 1000m at Warwick Farm in December, while she returned to action to only just miss in the Widden Stakes at Rosehill earlier this month.
She turned in a really nice piece of work here in Melbourne earlier this week and is open to plenty of improvement.
2 Units E/W Tempted
Race 9 - 4:55pm AEDT
Group 1 Oakleigh Plate (1100m)
The Oakleigh Plate is almost always one of the most open Group 1 races of the season and this year’s edition looks to be no exception.
With a case to be made for most of them, I’m going to have something on the resuming South Australian raider, Sghirripa.
Sghirripa has picked off some lovely sprints throughout his 20 career starts and a Group 1 race of this quality hasn’t appeared beyond him
With the light weight and from an inside draw, Liam Riordan can take him forward and give them something to chase, and I am confident he’ll be in it for a long way.
1 Unit E/W Sghirripa
Race 10 - 5:35pm AEDT
Listed Victoria Gold Cup (2000m)
Open race to end Blue Diamond Day, but a nice one for the second-up Dashing Duchess in my opinion.
Dashing Duchess has been a consistent performer for Symon Wilde since debuting, and she was far from disgraced when resuming to finish fifth behind Caulfield Cup winner, Duke De Sessa, in the JRA Plate here earlier this month.
With the benefit of that run and getting out to 2000m this week, it looks the right point of call for her.
1 Unit E/W Dashing Duchess