Lindsay Park has decided against running Shining Smile in this Saturday’s Blue Diamond Stakes, instead focusing on Tycoon Star and Miss Celine as their representatives in the prestigious $2 million Group 1 event at Caulfield.

Despite an impressive dead-heat victory in the Talindert Stakes at Flemington, trainers Ben, Will, and JD Hayes have opted to stick with runners whose preparations were specifically aimed at Victoria’s premier two-year-old race.

Tycoon Star, a Written Tycoon colt, will head into the 1200m feature second-up following a fourth-place finish in the Blue Diamond Prelude. Meanwhile, Miss Celine lines up third-up after contesting the 1000m Preview and 1100m Prelude.

Miss Celine, a daughter of Magnus, has only had two starts since her triumph in the Listed Debutant Stakes (1000m) in October. According to Will Hayes, her preparation has been carefully structured.

“We framed her prep off Hayasugi, we wanted her to be peaking third-up, and as you see in her beaten margins, five-and-a-half lengths and two-and-a-half lengths, she’s a horse on the up and I think she’ll be peaking on Blue Diamond Day,” Hayes said.

Though Miss Celine finished fourth in her lead-up races, Hayes is confident she will thrive over 1200m.

“The way that she won the Debutant she showed us her pattern is to ride cold and come around them and that’s when she runs her best because she really does savage the line,” Hayes said.

“Up in trip is really going to be suitable.”

Tycoon Star is also expected to step up after his first-up fourth in the Prelude, where he closed strongly from near the rear to finish 2-1/2 lengths behind the winner.

His only other starts came in spring, including a debut win in the Group 3 Maribyrnong Plate (1000m) at Flemington on Melbourne Cup Day.

“He’s another one that was very lucky to have the prizemoney under his belt, so we didn’t have to win and it wasn’t a grand final,” Hayes said.

“We knew from the wide gate we were going to get back, we just had to piece our way through the field, and I think with a little bit of luck he probably goes a little bit closer.

“He’s come out of it terrific and he’ll be ready to go second-up.”

Will Hayes is aiming to become the fifth member of the Hayes family to claim victory in the Blue Diamond Stakes. Ben and JD took home the trophy in 2023 with Little Brose before Will officially joined the partnership. Their father, David, boasts six Blue Diamond wins, while their grandfather, Colin, claimed three.