Rosemont Stud and trainer Jason Warren have a unique presence in this year’s Blue Diamond Stakes, fielding both the youngest and oldest contenders in the prestigious race.
Their two-year-old representatives, Palm Angel and Eden Rose, sit at opposite ends of the age spectrum. Eden Rose, foaled at Rosemont’s Gnarwarre farm on August 7, 2022, is the earliest-born runner, while Palm Angel arrived 67 days later, making her the youngest in the field.
With only three juvenile starters this season, Warren is eager to see either horse make an impact in a race that has brought frustration in the past.
“We’ve only got a small stable of 30 horses and have had three two-year-old runners this season—two of them are in the Blue Diamond,” Warren said. “It’s a fantastic achievement for our team and a great advertisement for our stable. We also have unfinished business here after Brooklyn Hustle was taken out of contention in a race we believed she could win.”
Brooklyn Hustle finished a close fifth in the 2019 Blue Diamond, a result Warren still laments.
Palm Angel, bred from the same Starspangledbanner-Pivotal cross as Brooklyn Hustle, is the only runner in this year’s race born after September 25. However, her participation remains uncertain after Racing Victoria veterinarians flagged concerns about her gait during pre-race inspections. A final vet check will be conducted before Saturday’s 7:30 AM scratching deadline.
Meanwhile, Field Of Play and Cherish Me have been cleared to race following reinspections, but Icarian Dream has been ruled unfit to start.
If Palm Angel competes and wins, she will be the fifth-youngest Blue Diamond champion since 1978, joining past winners Daumier, Courtza, Midnight Fever, and Hurricane Sky.