The Blue Diamond Stakes headlines an outstanding program at Sandown on Saturday, and some of the best two-year-olds in the country will chase their place in the history books, along with a share in a cool $2 million.
I’ve enjoyed pretty good success in this race throughout the last decade and have found the Blue Diamond Stakes winner in seven of its last nine editions, and I am particularly hungry this year following a rare miss of Daumier in 2022.
I’ve run the rule over the capacity field of sixteen plus emergencies, and you can find my 2023 Blue Diamond Stakes Tips below!
Suggested Bets
- 3 Units straight out #1 Barber
- 1.5 Units E/W #4 Brave Halo
- Boxed Trifecta of the selections below
Blue Diamond Stakes – Winner
Barber is yet to put a hoof wrong, and he’s going to be the one for me in the 2023 Blue Diamond.
The Exceed And Excel colt showed ability at the trials prior to debuting and stormed home to record a smart win in the Kirkham Plate back in October.
Having returned to the paddock after repeating the dose in the Golden Gift, I thought that Barber clearly needed his first run back in the Blue Diamond Prelude C&G, but he still did enough to win, and I’m confident of big improvement for that hit-out.
Jamie Kah adds further confidence and the horse is a fitting occupant of the top line of Blue Diamond betting (at publish).
Suggested Bet: No. 1 Barber
Blue Diamond Stakes – 2nd
Brave Halo was my early pick to win the Blue Diamond betting following a stunning trial last month, but he was one of the bigger losers at Tuesday’s barrier draw, landing the 16 marble.
The Brave Smash colt was nothing short of outstanding during his debut prep in the nation’s west, winning each of his three starts and improving noticeably with each; greeting the judge more than five lengths in the clear at Ascot in November.
I thought he was good, though perhaps a little luckless late when fourth in the Blue Diamond Prelude C&G a fortnight ago and he’ll derive plenty of benefit from the run.
The plan could have been to settle off the early pace regardless, in which case the wide draw wouldn’t be as much of a concern; he’s just going to need plenty to go right on race day!
Suggested Bet: No. 5 Bravo Halo
Blue Diamond Stakes – 3rd
Little Brose kept his best work for late in the Blue Diamond Prelude C&G, and he’s another that can fight out the finish of Saturday’s main event.
Little Brose stamped himself as one to watch when second on debut in the Maribyrnong Plate, and he was tipped out after breaking his maiden in style in the Merson Cooper.
He mustered a very nice turn of foot to finish just over a head off the pace of Barber first-up from a break, but did look to die on his run a little at one point, so I’m intrigued to see what he does do getting out to 1200m this week.
Suggested Bet: No. 4 Little Brose
Blue Diamond Stakes – 4th
As this preview and tips would suggest, I think that the colts & geldings contingent is stronger than the fillies’ contingent this year, but Exploring can return another competitive effort in the Blue Diamond Stakes.
Exploring has made three appearances at the races since making her debut, winning twice and highlighted by her tough performance on the pace in the Blue Diamond Prelude F last time out.
She was there to be beaten late but continued grinding away to hold off her rivals, and I therefore think that she is the pick of the fillies in this Blue Diamond Stakes field.
Suggested Bet: No. 9 Exploring
