Saturday 24th February plays host to the 2024 running of the first G1 for two-year-olds in the season, the MRC Blue Diamond Stakes. This year, eighteen colts and fillies will line up for the contest. Within these eighteen, there is a large Victorian-bred presence, with seven Victorian-sired and four Victorian-bred entries, so let’s have a look at their profiles.
Coleman (Pierata x Sboog) - Victorian-sired and -bred
By Yulong Stud’s first-season sire Pierata, Coleman has an excellent chance according to the bookmakers at $3.70. He won the G3 Chairman’s S. en route to the Blue Diamond, and is two from two. Trained by Victorian-based trainer Matt Laurie, the colt will be piloted by regular rider Ben Melham seeking a win for his large ownership group.
Coleman (Image: Racing Photos)
Traffic Warden (Street Boss x Efficiently) - Victorian-sired and -bred
Godolphin’s Victorian-based sire Street Boss, the sire of Anamoe, may well have another quality colt on his hooves. A winner over the 1000m at Caulfield, this colt is an outside chance with the bookmakers, but his close third in the G3 Canonbury S. brings him right into the contest. The Godolphin homebred, trained by James Cummings, will be ridden by Craig Williams and it would be no surprise to see him involved in the finish.
Fearless (Pierata x Matildare) - Victorian-sired
The second son of Yulong’s Pierata in the field, Fearless may not have won a race, but finished fourth in the G3 Breeders Plate on debut, before thundering home to finish second in the G3 Canonbury S. He is a colt firmly on the rise, and has posted three smart trial wins. He represents the formidable partnership of Peter & Paul Snowden training for the James Harron Bloodstock Colt Syndicate, and will be steered by Michael Dee.
Hayasugi (Royal Meeting x China Road) - Victorian-sired
Leneva Park’s first season sire Royal Meeting is well placed to provide a horse for the G1 Blue Diamond. An unbeaten two-year-old by Invincible Spirit, out of a two-year-old champion, Hayasugi’s pedigree is full of early speed. She has won both the G3 Preview and the G2 Prelude in the build up to this race, showing she loves the Caulfield track, and her price of $17.00 belies her chances. It would be foolish to write her off for trainer Clinton McDonald and jockey Jamie Kah.
Hayasugi (Image: Racing Photos)
Lady Of Camelot (Written Tycoon x Miss Debutante) - Victorian-sired
Yulong’s Victorian Champion sire Written Tycoon has already sired the winner of this race, when Written By took out the 2018 edition. In this filly, he has an excellent chance to double his tally. A winner of the G3 Widden S. last time out, this Go Bloodstock homebred is trained by Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott, who are having an incredible season so far with their two-year-olds, and it must count for something that this filly, who will be ridden by Adam Hyeronimous, is their sole entry in this prestigious race.
Kuroyanagi (Written Tycoon x Tetsuko) - Victorian-sired
Written Tycoon is doubly represented, and this filly finished second in a photo finish with Hayasugi in the G2 Prelude on just her second start so must come into consideration. Trained by Will Clarken and Nicki O’Shea, Brenton Avdulla takes the reins on this filly, priced up at $16.00 by the bookmakers. She is drawn low to attack, and should be involved in a finish.
Matisse (Microphone x Sanadaat) - Victorian-bred
Bred and owned by the Victorian-based Murray family, this filly has only had two starts: the G3 Blue Diamond Preview and the G3 Blue Diamond Prelude, finishing third in both. The latter performance was especially impressive as she was drawn wide and had to sit before flying home to finish a half-length third. She now gets the inside gate under Luke Currie, and a price of $23.00 belies her quality, as Anthony & Sam Freedman will have her primed and ready to go.
Flyer (Exceedance x Miss Toorak Flyer) - Victorian-bred
Bred and owned by Brett Charman and Rosemont Stud, the Jason Warren-trained filly Flyer, is a huge price at $126.00. However, she has won her only start, in good style at Sandown, and has posted some eye-catching trials and jump outs. She may be up against it in terms of experience, but there can be no denying her quality. Jye McNeil takes the reins, and she will be ready to take her chance.
In Her Eyes (Star Witness x Love Spy) - Victorian-sired and -bred
By Widden Stud Victoria’s G1 Blue Diamond winner Star Witness, In Her Eyes will look to follow in her sire’s hoofprints as she jumps under Blaike McDougall for Leon & Troy Corstens. Bred by T Khoury, she finished well from the back of the field in the G2 Prelude, and the likely strong pace will suit.
Wishing all horses and their connections the best of luck!
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