3 minute read

Not often is the double done starting from the Blue Diamond Prelude (C&G) run at Sandown Hillside on Saturday.

Written By was the last one to achieve that so note the 2023 Blue Diamond Prelude (C&G) (1100m) at Sandown Hillside on Saturday.

2023 Blue Diamond Prelude (C&G): Nominations

2023 BLUE DIAMOND PRELUDE (C&G) - RACE HISTORY AND BACKGROUND

The Blue Diamond Prelude (Colts & Geldings) is a Group 3 Race for two year old colts and geldings conducted by the Melbourne Racing Club.

The Blue Diamond Prelude (Colts & Geldings) was first run in 1982 and was won by Rancher.

The Blue Diamond Prelude (Colts & Geldings) is run over 1100m under Set Weight conditions. It was worth $300,000 in 2023.

The Fillies Division of the Prelude is a Group 2 Race.

The race was Listed until 1986, then Group 3 afterwards.

Most runnings have been at Caulfield but it was at Sandown when Caulfield was out of play for reconstruction in 1996. It's back to Sandown.

Several have done the Prelude (C&G)/Blue Diamond double including Rancher, Let's Get Physical, Bel Esprit, Sepoy and Written By.

Those to do the Blue Diamond Prelude (C&G)/Golden Slipper double are Danzero, Flying Spur, Prowl and Sepoy.

Notable winners of the Blue Diamond Prelude (Colts & Geldings) include Rancher (1982), Let's Get Physical (1985), Ark Regal (1989), Unspoken Word (1990), Danzero (1994), Flying Spur (1995), Millward (1997), Prowl (1998), Lonhro (2001), Bel Esprit (2002), Perfectly Ready (2005), Sepoy (2011), Rubick (2014), Flying Artie (2016), Property (2017), Written By (2018) and Lofty Strike (2022).

The 2022 Blue Diamond Prelude (Colts & Geldings) was won by Lofty Strike from Semillion and Daumier.