Having opted to pay a $55,000 late entry fee for the Blue Diamond Stakes, Field Of Play is now the leading contender for the Group 1 event after securing an ideal barrier.

A total of 16 runners will contest Victoria’s premier two-year-old race over 1200m at Caulfield on Saturday. The Trent Busuttin and Natalie Young-trained Field Of Play landed barrier five, adding to his growing credentials.

Originally overlooked for the Blue Diamond Stakes nominations last year due to plans for a move to Hong Kong, Field Of Play forced a rethink with a strong debut win at Moonee Valley followed by victory in the Blue Diamond Prelude (1100m) on February 8. This prompted connections to pay the late entry fee.

The Deep Field gelding has already earned close to $300,000 from his two victories.

Busuttin believes Field Of Play has only improved since his last performance.

“He worked up perfect this morning,” Busuttin said.

“Touch wood, it’s been very smooth, very trouble free.

“After his gallop this morning, I said the only thing that could go off the rails was a bad barrier draw, and luckily, we’ve got the good draw, and all we have to do now is keep him nice and tidy until Saturday and he’ll run well.”

Following the draw, Field Of Play remains the betting favourite at $5 for the Blue Diamond Stakes, ahead of My Gladiola and Palm Angel, both at $7.

My Gladiola, set to jump from barrier 11, will adopt a more conservative approach after being defeated in the fillies’ Blue Diamond Prelude, where Palm Angel claimed victory.

Previously the Blue Diamond Stakes 2025 favourite following her dominant debut win in the Blue Diamond Preview at Sandown on January 25, My Gladiola’s trainer, John McArdle, is confident she can bounce back.

“My job was finished this morning,” McArdle said.

“She galloped this morning with Jamie (Mott) aboard on the course proper at Mornington.

“We were very happy with her. Her work on the analytics was as good as my eye and Jamie’s feel, which was identical to before the Preview, so she seems to be in good order.

“Barrier 11, we’ll go back, and it will be what it will be, but if we can get a toe into the race, she’s got an electric turn of foot when she’s ridden a bit quieter.

“Hopefully it will work out on Saturday.”

Trainer Jason Warren will saddle up both Palm Angel and longshot Eden Rose ($126), with Palm Angel drawing barrier one and Eden Rose set to jump from gate 14. Warren believes both fillies landed ideal starting positions.

“She’s a speed filly that will be able to hold a spot and make use of the barrier,” Warren said of Palm Angel.

“She will settle behind the leaders, and I think Ethan (Brown) will be afforded the luxury of a soft enough run in transit and hopefully he can get her out when he needs to.

“Eden Rose, she drew wide when an unlucky fourth in the Debutant, so she will go back and be finishing on.

“She’s drawn well to do that and could outrun her price.”