How good is the Blue Diamond Stakes shaping up to be this Saturday? Three undefeated records will go on the line at Caulfield in the juvenile feature and a strong case can be made for each of them.
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Rubick is the favourite but has drawn barrier 10 in the capacity field of 16. Gerald Ryan’s colt had a big wrap on him even before he hit the racetrack on January 25 at Randwick. A big reason for that was the fact he won a 900 metre barrier trial at the start of the year by a whopping seven lengths! His debut win lived up to the hype as he raced away from his opposition over the 1000 metres to score by just under three lengths. Sent out a hot favourite in the Blue Diamond Prelude for Colts & Geldings at his next start, Rubick was made to work for the entire race after holding the inside and being pressured throughout. Showing his class, he kicked clear at the top of the straight before Brenton Avdulla had to get the best out of him in the concluding stages to go on and win by a length over Jabali and Chivalry.
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The consensus immediately after that day (February 8) was that Earthquake was far more impressive when taking out the Fillies’ division of the Prelude. It has to be said though that the races were run in stark contrast to one and other. Rubick had to work throughout whereas Earthquake was given a quiet run just off the speed by jockey Damian Browne. Earthquake, from the powerful Snowden yard, is the second of the undefeated brigade and like Rubick, has won two from two. She created a huge impression on debut at Randwick on November 9 last year winning by two-and-a-half lengths. The daughter of Exceed and Excel then won her Blue Diamond Prelude effortlessly by two-and-three-quarter lengths over Eloping and Lumosty. Her biggest hurdle heading into Saturday’s feature is the fact she will have to overcome barrier 15. Where will Browne have her positioned in the run? There’s no doubt that Rubick and Earthquake will be the two most popular runners that Luxbet punters will be investing on in this race.
Both have created huge impressions so far in their brief careers but a fact that could come into play is the track condition. While Earthquake has won both her starts on a Good track, Rubick has won on a Good and Dead track, and with rain hitting Melbourne throughout the week and showers forecast for Saturday, is Mother Nature going to be the deciding factor?
Those looking for a runner to knock off the favs shouldn’t look further than the third of the unbeaten horses set to contest the Blue Diamond – Nayeli. Representing the powerful Gai Waterhouse stable, the daughter of More Than Ready had won by an average of two lengths in her two career outings. Her first win came on January 8 on the Kensington track where she knocked off subsequent Inglis Classic winner, Peggy Jean. Next up at Caulfield on February 1, Bugatty and Cautious were left in her wake as she charged away down the straight to win the Chairman’s Stakes .Nayeli definitely has class about her and will contest the race from barrier nine. She is owned in the same interests as one of the best juveniles of the modern era, Pierro, and with the same Waterhouse polish to boot, who’s to say the filly won’t be making it three wins from as many starts come Saturday?
Luxbet has a fantastic special on the Blue Diamond and you could be in for a real treat when you snag the winner.Place a Bookies Best + 10% in the race and you’ll be guaranteed to win 10% more than Sportsbet’s Top Tote Plus, Tom Waterhouse’s Tom’s Div and Sportingbet’s Best Tote Plus.
Looking at other races on the Caulfield card and the Oakleigh Plate is set to be a cracking race.The field is packed with class and although there isn’t the likes of a Black Caviar, Hay List or Buffering, one of these gallopers is going to deservedly win a Group One.Lankan Rupee is the clear favourite is aiming for four straight wins for trainer Mick Price.The son of Redoute’s Choice has won six of 13 career outings and is a last start winner of the Group Two Rubiton Stakes over Iconic and First Command.
Another positive aspect is the fact he’s already a winner at the track and has won on Good and rain affected tracks.The Oakleigh Plate isn’t the only other race to look forward to at Caulfield with the Peter Young Stakes set to see the return of Melbourne Cup winners Fiorente and Green Moon, while the Futurity Stakes will also attract plenty of attention.
In Sydney, Randwick will play host to the Apollo Stakes where Boban clashes with the likes of Howmuchdoyouloveme and Appearance.Star filly Guelph also makes her return to racing earlier in the day when she contests The Light Fingers. She won’t have an easy assignment though as the race is full of class headed by Sweet Idea, Real Surreal and Arabian Gold.
