Could the Blue Diamond deliver Deep Field's best yet?
The G1 Blue Diamond Stakes, Victoria’s premier 2-year-old race, has a reputation for shaping future stars, with champions like Redoute’s Choice on its honour roll.
In the last 18 editions, only two winners finished outside the quinella in their lead-up run, reinforcing the importance of strong recent form. While favourites have struggled in recent years, the race remains a stronghold for powerhouse stables like Snowden, Price/Kent, Freedman, and Hayes, who have won eight of the last 11 runnings.
Nic Ashman suggests history shows the winning formula is a middle barrier (4-11), a top-two finish last start, and a midfield settling position at the 600m. He identified My Gladiola (I Am Invincible) as fitting the key profile—runner-up last start, drawn barrier 11, and a strong closer in the Fillies Preview. Palm Angel (Starspangledbanner) aims to become the sixth filly in 14 years to complete the Prelude-Diamond double, though her wide draw adds a challenge.
Field Of Play (Deep Field) looks a major player among the boys, and as one of only 64 foals from Deep Field's second to last crop, a victory would serve as a fitting highlight for his influential stud career at Newgate Stud.
Deep Field | Retired from stud duties
She's Bulletproof and ready to fire
Charlotte Littlefield, an English event rider turned boutique trainer, never imagined her first Group 1 runner would be a homebred filly who once struggled to stay on her feet. “When we first had her out on the track, I thought 'What on earth is this'? She couldn't pick her own feet up,” Littlefield recalled to racing.com.
But with a dominant G3 Bellmaine Stakes victory, she became Littlefield's first Group winner. The $750,000 G1 Oakleigh Plate marks She’s Bulletproof’s (Shooting To Win) biggest test yet. With Craig Williams aboard and a prime draw in barrier eight, she’s the $5 favourite and perfectly placed to unleash her electric turn of foot over 1100m.
Trainer of She's Bulletproof, Charlotte Littlefield | Image courtesy of Hayfields Racing
Next in the market is smart Ciaron Maher mare Estriella (I Am Invincible), with Ray Magnerio (Magnus), Jimmystar (Per Incanto) and I Am Me (I Am Invincible) all under the $10 mark.
All eyes will be on 3-year-old stallion prospect Espionage (Zoustar) who has his first start in the purple and white Derrick Smith silks with Coolmore now in his ownership. Winner of the 2023 G3 Breeders' Plate and 2024 G3 Kindergarten Stakes, he missed spring due to injury.
Could the first-season sire rankings be in for a shake-up?
It’s a battle of the shades of blue across the first season sires represented across the nation on Saturday, with Kia Ora Stud’s Farnan, Coolmore’s Wootton Bassett (GB), and Darley’s Bivouac competing for who can have the most amount of offspring on the track.
The former two are both represented by a runner apiece in the G1 Blue Diamond Stakes at Caulfield, and all three have at least one runner in the G3 Silver Slipper Stakes at Rosehill Gardens.
Farnan
Farnan, as a G1 Golden Slipper winner was always likely to leave precocious offspring, and he will have runners in four of the six juvenile races running on Saturday. His boom colt North Of England has been scratched from the Silver Slipper, but he will still be represented by the debutant colt Nashville Jack for Brad Widdup and Mulberry Racing. Twice trialled back in October and twice more before debut, the $225,000 Inglis Easter Yearling Sale graduate has never finished further back than third.
Farnan | Standing at Kia Ora Stud
In the Blue Diamond, he is represented by Peter Moody and Katherine Coleman’s Olatunde. Unplaced but not without merit in both Blue Diamond lead-up races, the colt was a $300,000 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale purchase for his trainers from Kenmore Lodge.
Farnan also has daughter Recuperato in the Listed Cinderella Stakes at Morphettville and the unbeaten Impervious in the fillies’ race at Doomben.
Wootton Bassett
Wootton Bassett, a first-season sire only in the Southern Hemisphere, is delivering quality that reflects the reputation that preceded his arrival at Jerrys Plains. His daughter Wiltshire Square, placed at stakes level in all three of her starts, takes her place in the Blue Diamond, although she faces a tough task to jump from barrier 13.
Wootton Bassett | Standing at Coolmore Stud
Two sons represent him in the Silver Slipper, and many are still hanging Golden Slipper hopes on Chris Waller’s boom $1.6 million colt Wodeton. West Of Swindon was second in the $1 million Golden Gift on debut and has since produced a strong trial second.
Bivouac
Bivouac was an elite sprinter, and it’s no surprise that his offspring are showing the same tenacity. His Silver Slipper representative, Godolphin homebred Beiwacht was an improving second in the Listed Lonhro Plate last start, but is probably looking for more ground than 1100 metres. He has two representatives at Morphettville in the Listed Cinderella Stakes; debutants Dazelles and Moon Goddess.
Bivouac | Standing at Darley Australia
Others to follow
Other first-season sires making their mark include Rosemont Stud’s Hanseatic (Tiz Worthy, Melrose in the Cinderella Stakes), Coolmore’s King’s Legacy (Steel Trap), Darley shuttler Earthlight (Ire) (Solar Crest at Ascot), Widden Stud’s Dirty Work (Pony Up) and Sandbar's Gazz.
This weekend is a proving ground for these young stallions, and by Saturday evening, we’ll have a clearer picture of who’s leading the freshman pack. Pole position is currently held by Ole Kirk at $2.1 million, with Lucky Vega (Ire) following at $1.1 million.
Wishing for a win
Superstar gelding I Wish I Win (NZ) (Savabeel) returns in Saturday’s G1 Futurity Stakes (1400m), and Jamie Melham is ready to take on Mr Brightside (NZ) (Bullbars) in a high-stakes rematch.
Melham, who took Mr Brightside down in the CF Orr Stakes on Another Wil (Street Boss {USA}), is confident she has the firepower to do it again aboard the second favourite. “We did it the other day, we might be able to do it again,” she said.
I Wish I Win | Image courtesy of The Image Is Everything
Trainer Peter Moody admits this weekend will be an emotional rollercoaster—not just for the race, but because he’ll be walking his daughter Brea down the aisle on Friday. While he’s bracing for tears at the wedding, he’s staying cool about I Wish I Win’s return, believing the gelding is in peak form.
With Moody and Katherine Coleman carefully monitoring track conditions, I Wish I Win won’t start if the surface is firmer than a Good 4. But if he lines up, he’ll be looking to settle unfinished business with Mr Brightside, having finished third behind him in last year’s G1 Memsie Stakes.
Avondale Guineas: Key indicator for Sydney carnival success?
The Sydney Autumn Carnival has long been a happy hunting ground for New Zealand-trained 3-year-olds, particularly those in top form during the early autumn. Once the three-year-old feature races stretch beyond 2000 metres, the strike rate of Kiwi raiders becomes particularly impressive. Since 2008, 13 New Zealand-trained horses have claimed victory in either the G1 Vinery Stud Stakes, G1 Australian Oaks, or G1 Australian Derby.
Saturday’s G2 Eagle Technology Avondale Guineas shapes as a strong contest, with eight runners also holding nominations for the $2 million G1 Australian Derby.
Three key contenders who could stamp themselves as serious Sydney Carnival players are Willydoit (NZ) (Tarzino {NZ}), Hinekaha (NZ) (Savabeel), and Oceana Dream (NZ) (Ocean Park {NZ}).
Willydoit
A rising star, Willydoit has burst onto the scene with three wins from four starts, showcasing enormous potential. Despite having yet to race beyond a mile or compete in black-type company, he is an odds-on favourite for the Guineas and currently holds top billing for the Australian Derby.
His pedigree suggests he will thrive over longer distances—his sire Tarzino (NZ) won the G1 Victorian Derby and G1 Rosehill Guineas, while his grandam Portland Singa (NZ) (Danasinga) was a G1 Brisbane Cup winner over 3200 metres.
Hinekaha
Hinekaha has been a model of consistency. Trained by Andrew Forsman and she has been ridden in all starts by New Zealand’s current premiership-leading jockey Craig Grylls.
After breaking her maiden impressively, she has placed in two races behind leading “The NZB Kiwi’ contender Checkmate (NZ) (Mongolian Khan). She then reverted back to winning form next time out, securing a narrow but determined win in the Listed Grangewilliam Stud Oaks Prelude at New Plymouth. Forsman has hinted that keeping her on a 'Derby path' at Ellerslie is the priority, but a Sydney campaign remains on the table for the daughter of Savabeel.
Oceana Dream
Oceana Dream looms as a dark horse for Sydney. His trainers Roger James and Robert Wellwood have a proven track record in Sydney in recent years, having won the last two editions of the G1 Vinery Stud Stakes with Prowess (NZ) (Proisir) and Orchestral (NZ) (Savabeel).
The Judi and Ron Wanless-bred Ocean Park (NZ) gelding made an eye-catching debut when winning at Tauranga in January, then followed up with a gutsy victory over a mile against older horses at Ellerslie on February 1, despite covering extra ground.
While these three contenders are all strong Group 2 hopes on Saturday, they also look primed for the NZ$1.25 million G1 Trackside New Zealand Derby and a potential tilt at Sydney’s lucrative autumn riches.
Head to head: Hobartville clash promises Randwick Guineas preview
Broadsiding vs Linebacker
With the G1 Randwick Guineas just two weeks away, attention this weekend will no doubt be on the field in the G2 Hobartville Stakes at Rosehill Gardens, particularly as it features the resumption of Champion 2YO Colt Broadsiding (Too Darn Hot {GB}). After a mixed end to his spring, Godolphin’s star is set to chase more Group 1 targets this autumn en route to a spot at stud.
“He means business and he’ll be there to run very well,” James Cummings said to Racing HQ. “I’m really confident that he’s come back well and yet there’s nothing like race day for that to be the ultimate test.”
“I think we’ve got options with a versatile colt,” Cummings said. “With his stud value in mind, whilst it’s important to win Group 1s, it’s also advantageous to demonstrate the pace that he’s got - that impressive closing speed.”
Broadsiding’s most recent trial was not a particularly taxing one, with the colt needing little urging from James McDonald to improve from midfield and win over Too Darn Lizzie (Too Darn Hot {GB}).
Old rival Linebacker (NZ) (Super Seth), now gelded, looms as a major threat after a strong second behind fellow Hobartville contender Public Attention (NZ) (Written Tycoon) in the G3 Eskimo Prince Stakes first-up. Trained by John O’Shea and Tom Charlton, the 3-year-old had a luckless spring as his hormones got the better of him. However, he boasts a win over Broadsiding in the G3 Baillieu Stakes as a juvenile and could repeat the feat. His pedigree suggests a Guineas mile could be his true weapon.
“Broadsiding sets a standard,’’ Charlton told Racing NSW. “We’ve had a bit of form tied in with him and he’s had our measure, but this is his (Linebacker) first preparation back as a gelding and we’re hoping we can bridge that gap.
“We’d be confident of a good showing and one that can step us forward to what we think is going to be a suitable distance over a mile at Randwick.”
Neither 3-year-old has a goal beyond the Guineas at the moment, but there is the potential for several clashes over the autumn, particularly with the allure of weight-for-age contests like the G1 George Ryder Stakes and the G1 Doncaster Handicap.
