A capacity field of 16 will step out at Caulfield on Saturday to contest the richest juvenile race of the Autumn Carnival, the Group 1 Blue Diamond Stakes (1200m).
Prelude winners Lofty Strike and Revolutionary Miss have drawn wide ahead of the $1.5 million feature, but both remain on the top line of betting alongside previous track and distance winner and current favourite, Jacquinot.
On the back of Artorius’ success last year, Team Freedman will be hoping to defend their crown when they line up Daumier, while Peter Moody has a strong hand in the race with Rampant Lion, Merchant Prince, and Waltz On By also accepting.
Favourites have a strong track record in this race, but it’s worth noting the previous two winners (Artorius and Tagloa) both lobbed at double-figure odds.
With that in mind, you can find our thoughts on each and every runner in our 2022 Blue Diamond Stakes Preview below.
Semillion
Semillion put the writing on the wall on debut at Moonee Valley last year when he won the Inglis Banner by over a length.
He was quickly put away in time for the autumn and has since resumed to finish a clear runner-up to Lofty Strike in the Blue Diamond Prelude.
The Hawkes-trained colt sat one-off the speed and found the front 100m out from home, a run he can improve on after only being beaten late.
If he can offset the awkward draw, he should be in this for a long way.
Lofty Strike
Lofty Strike is hoping to become the sixth colt to complete the Prelude-Blue Diamond double, as well as the first of Julius Sandhu’s runners to win a Group 1.
The son of Snitzel let down beautifully down the middle in last fortnight’s traditional lead-up to run straight past Saturday’s rival Semillion, his second win from as many starts.
His debut win at Flemington over English Riviera was equally as impressive, and if Jamie Mott can offset the wide barrier, he should go very close to a hat-trick.
Daumier
Daumier won the Blue Diamond Preview on Australia Day where he fought off the Peter Moody-trained Rampant Lion in a thrilling battle to the line.
The Freedman-trained two-year-old held ground for third in the Preview a fortnight later, but just lacked the extra gear to go with Lofty Strike and Semillion over the final furlong.
There’s still scope for improvement, and the booking of Mark Zahra from the ideal draw makes him one of the better value chances similar to stablemate Artorius last year.
Sebonack
Sebonack is looking to take the next step after winning the Group 3 Chairman’s Stakes on debut at Caulfield two weeks ago.
The colt by Capitalist bolted in from midfield to win by over a length, and a repeat performance could be on the cards after drawing barrier 8.
There’s much more pressure in this race, so he’ll need to settle closer to the speed. But given everything we saw last time out, there’s no reason he can’t go on with it.
Counttheheadlights
Counttheheadlights comes out of the Blue Diamond Prelude where he was far from disgraced running fourth to Lofty Strike.
The Ciaron Maher and David Eustace-trained colt got away slowly and was caught five-wide no cover, a run that he can definitely improve on now with some fitness on his side.
His debut win at Moonee Valley was impressive to say the least, and he should be saving his best for late again.
Jacquinot
Jacquinot recorded an impressive win over the track and distance on debut and will likely step out as the favourite in Saturday’s $1.5 million Blue Diamond.
The son of Rubick blew the start in the Prelude, but still managed to clock the second-fastest 200m of the race to storm home late for fifth.
Barrier 10 leaves Damian Lane with a range of options, but the pair should look to settle somewhere towards midfield and save their speed for late.
Rampant Lion
Rampant Lion has been kept fresh after running half-a-length second to Daumier in the Preview on Australia Day.
The Peter Moody-trained colt has finished strongly in his two runs so far and has drawn to get another lovely run in behind the speed under Kerrin McEvoy.
He charged late last time out in the Preview, and off that, the step up to 1200m does look ideal for him now.
Merchant Prince
Merchant Prince won his maiden two back at Pakenham by a narrow margin and gave good chase late when a clear second at Sandown last week.
He’s clearly going well if Peter Moody has chosen to race on the quick backup, but this does look a significant step up in class.
Flashing Steel
Flashing Steel has flashed plenty of promise in three starts at the races.
The son of Not A Single Doubt ran a place two back in a Group 3 at Rosehill, but he failed to make up much ground when eighth in the Pierro Plate a couple of weeks ago. This only looks tougher out to 1200m for the first time.
Hafey
Hafey gaped his rivals by 3.75L after unleashing a powerful turn of foot to win on debut at Bendigo a few weeks ago.
He’s definitely got plenty of potential, but this does look a much tougher challenge up in grade and from the wide gate.
Revolutionary Miss
Revolutionary Miss is the only filly on the first line of Blue Diamond Stakes betting, and for good reason.
This daughter of Russian Revolution simply hasn’t put a foot wrong in three starts, running back-to-back runner-ups in Sydney before breaking her maiden two weeks ago in the Fillies Prelude at Caulfield.
The Snowden’s have developed a strong reputation regarding their two-year-olds, and with a little luck from the ugly draw, Revolutionary Miss should at the very least be finishing somewhere in the top four.
Miss Roseiano
Miss Roseiano is a promising filly out of the Peter Gelagotis stable that also brings winning form with her into the Blue Diamond.
The daughter of Exceed and Excel scored by half a length on debut at Caulfield in the Fillies Preview, and she wasn’t beaten by much when runner-up to Revolutionary Miss in the Prelude a fortnight later.
She recorded a slick split between the 400-200m mark that day and Jordan Childs said she felt strong through the line.
Connections have paid a late entry fee to line up here, so they clearly think she’s up to it, and her recent form is tough to argue with.
Kiki Express
Kiki Express won narrowly on debut in the Debutant Stakes and is a much better horse than her first-up run in the Fillies Prelude suggests
The daughter of Sepoy settled midfield and was held up for a run down the straight, but she did show plenty once clear to finish two lengths seventh.
She showed she’s capable when winning on debut at Caulfield during the spring, and a change of rider might just see her turn things around.
English Riviera
English Riviera looks to be a honest type that has just found one or two better so far.
She was beaten only three-quarters of a length to Lofty Strike on debut at Flemington and held ground nicely for third in the Prelude a couple of weeks ago.
The daughter of Deep Field will likely push forward again and is worth consideration in exotics.
Waltz On By
Waltz On By is on the quick backup after finishing three-quarters of a length second to I’mlovin’ya in last week’s Talindert Stakes at Flemington.
The filly by I Am Invincible was only gunned down late over the final 200m after leading for most of the way, and she should have no problem finding the front again after drawing the rails.
Seven Sisters
Seven Sisters broke her maiden two back by the narrowest of margins at Geelong and was far from disgraced when fourth in the Fillies Prelude a couple of weeks ago.
She clocked the second-fastest final 200m of that race, but does look to have her work cut out from the wide barrier on this occasion.