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Autumn Carnival racing is in full swing, and the 2024 Blue Diamond Stakes is one of three Group 1 feature races set to be contested at Caulfield Racecourse this Saturday, February 24th.
For more racing and sports previews, visit the Ladbrokes Blog.
The Blue Diamond Stakes winners list is long and illustrious, and it has proven to be the launchpad for many a juvenile into stardom and a successful breeding career.
The undefeated Coleman has opened a warm favourite in 2024 Blue Diamond Stakes betting following Tuesday's barrier draw, but there is a case to be made for many of them, including Bodyguard, Lady Of Camelot, High Octane and Hayasugi.
I've provided my thoughts on every galloper below in my 2024 Blue Diamond Stakes Preview.
2024 Blue Diamond Stakes Betting Strategy
► 3 Units Coleman (Win)
► 1 Unit Eneeza (Each Way)
1 – Rue De Royale (17)
Yet to break his maiden in three previous trips to the races, but Rue De Royale has been consistent and is worthy of his place in the 2024 Blue Diamond Stakes field.
Ended his debut campaign second in the Golden Gift and kept his best work for late when second, beaten just over half a length in the Inglis Millenniums a fortnight ago.
Open to plenty of improvement but has come up with a horror draw.
2 – Spywire (18)
Spywire makes his eagerly awaited return to the races after he was last seen filling the minors of the Magic Millions Classic, though well beaten by Storm Boy.
Prior to that, the Trapeze Artist colt has broken his maiden at Rosehill, finished second in the Wyong Magic Millions races and won a substantially weaker feature race on the Gold Coast.
He was good at his only other fresh run, but this is an enormous task, and he's another who'll need everything to go right from a wide draw.
3 – Bodyguard (6)
Undefeated galloper who returned to action with an eye-catching victory in the Group 3 Blue Diamond Prelude for colts & geldings a fortnight ago.
His only other start was a dominant two-length victory in the Maribyrnong Trial, and he is open to plenty of improvement this week.
Drawn ideally under Mark Zahra and is undoubtedly a leading contender.
4 – Coleman (7)The only other undefeated galloper in the 2024 Blue Diamond Stakes field that has had more than one start.
Coleman announced himself to the Australian racing fraternity with a big win in the Dubutant Stakes back in October, and returned to action for a dominant win in the Chairman's Stakes here three weeks ago.
Everything has reportedly gone right for the horse since that tune-up, and he's drawn to receive every chance under regular hoop Ben Melham. Top pick.
5 – Stay Focused (15)
Stay Focused proved far too classy for a field of maidens at Geelong on debut and was eye-catching into second, beaten only half a length by Bodyguard in the Prelude here a fortnight ago.
Open to plenty of improvement and should relish the extra distance, but barrier 15 is a concern.
6 – Dublin Down (3)First up following a three-start spring preparation.
Raced greenly on debut and was well beaten by Bodyguard at Flemington on debut before finishing second in maiden company at Bendigo.
Did break his maiden in the Group 3 Maribyrnong Plate at his only other start, but clearly needed a few to get going and might find a few of these rivals a little too sharp.
7 – Traffic Warden (14)Ran second to Storm Boy on debut and broke his maiden comfortably over 1000m here at Caulfield at his second start.
Returned from a freshen-up to fill the minors in Group 3 company up in Sydney and is open to plenty of improvement.
Craig Williams is a bonus, but barrier 14 might be a little sticky.
8 – High Octane (10)Well beaten favourite in the Blue Diamond Prelude here a fortnight ago after being blocked for a run.
His only other start prior was an eye-catching win in the Blue Diamond Preview, and he will take plenty of improvement into this race.
The 1200m looks ideal and with clear running this time, he can find himself in the finish. A genuine threat to the market favourites.
9 – Zestiman (8)Debuted to win down the Flemington straight before a credible performance to finish fifth, beaten around two lengths in the Inglis Millennium, having been posted wide for much of the running.
Other formlines are stronger and Zestiman would need a lot to go right to figure in the finish of something this strong.
10 – Fearless (16)Fair through the line in an open edition of the Breeders' Plate at Randwick back in September, and returned to action to finish a half-length second in the Group 3 Canonbury Stakes.
This will be his first crack at the Victorian way of going and would need to go to another level to break his maiden in this field, and from barrier 16.
11 – Hayasugi (11)Has quickly stamped herself as one of the better two-year-old fillies of this crop.
Hayasugi broke her maiden in the Blue Diamond Preview F first-up from a break and franked that performance when flying home from back in the field to win the Fillies Prelude last time out.
Fitter third-up, out to the 1200m and under the urgings of Jamie Kah once more, there is no doubt that she is a winning chance.
12 – Eneeza (5)Sent off a popular pick in Chairman's Stakes betting at her first run back this time but was ultimately well beaten by Coleman.
Had two starts in spring for a credible second in the Group 3 Ottawa before breaking her maiden in dominant fashion in the Listed Merson Cooper.
Expecting plenty of improvement from this filly and she could prove to be the value in Blue Diamond Stakes betting.
13 – Lady Of Camelot (4)
Took up the running and kicked clear to win the Widden Stakes easily in her first run back from a break.
At her only other run, she finished half a length fourth behind Manaal in the Gimcrack Stakes, but her fresh run this time hinted at big improvement.
She'll tighten up into this contest and Adam Hyeronimus jumps into the saddle. Barrier 4 is ideal, and she can go straight to the lead and make all of her own luck again.
14 – Kuroyanagi (2)South Australian making another step up in class.
Blew them away in an 1100m race at Gawler on debut last month and did measure up nicely when second, only beaten on the line by Hayasugi a fortnight ago.
Fitter third-up, the booking of Brenton Avdulla is interesting, who flies in from Hong Kong to take the ride.
15 – Matisse (1)Matisse is yet to break her maiden in two previous appearances at the races.
Having finished half a length behind Hayasugi in the Blue Diamond Preview on debut, she was again half a length behind that galloper in the Prelude at her latest.
She looks unlikely to trouble a few of these gallopers without noticeable improvement.
16 – Flyer (13)Showed promise at the trials prior to debuting for a half-length win in maiden company at Sandown.
Strips fitter, but this is a huge rise in class.
17e – In Her Eyes (9)In Her Eyes is the first emergency in the 2024 Blue Diamond Stakes field.
Having yet to record a win in two previous appearances, she would need to produce huge improvement if she did gain a start.
18e – Altermatum (12)Altermatum is the second emergency in the 2024 Blue Diamond Stakes field and fittingly, a rank outsider in betting.
