Futurity Stakes Barrier Draw Stats & Info
Blue Diamond Stakes Tips & Preview 2024
Looking for Blue Diamond Stakes tips and best bets? We dissect times and form to find the winner of the 2024 Blue Diamond Stakes at Caulfield.
BLUE DIAMOND STAKES BETTING SNAPSHOT
It is the unbeaten colt, Coleman, that holds slight favouritism in the market with Ladbrokes on Wednesday and is at $4.40, while the Waterhouse/Bott filly, Lady Of Camelot, has been a firmer and is into $4.80. The Blue Diamond Prelude (1100m) winner from the colts and geldings division, Bodyguard, is at $5.50.
High Octane was a luckless runner behind Bodyguard last time and is at $6.50, while Eneeza is at $10. Stay Focused is a $16 shot, while the first three home in the Fillies Prelude (1100m) are next and they are Kuroyanagi ($18), Hayasugi ($19) and Matisse ($20).
BLUE DIAMOND STAKES FORM ANALYSIS
Coleman and Bodyguard are two of three unbeaten gallopers in the Blue Diamond. The other is one of the roughies in the race, Flyer, who took out a much easier assignment on debut at Sandown.
Bodyguard claimed the Maribyrnong Trial (1000m) at Flemington last spring before resuming with a win in the Prelude (1100m) for the colts and geldings. In that race, the Peter & Paul Snowden-trained galloper was a slight drifter in the betting before settling handy and clearing out late ahead of Stay Focused.
High Octane is the other runner to come out of that race and was held up for the majority of the straight in what was a forget run for the stablemate of Bodyguard. The winner went 7.3 lengths faster than standard that day. Little separates the fillies with Hayasugi going 7.0 length faster than standard on the same day.
The Clinton McDonald-trained galloper edged out Kuroyanagi, while Matisse was 3rd. The latter was the eye-catcher of the race, going 22.08 over the last 400m, which were the best for the last two furlongs.
Coleman’s wins have come in the Debutant Stakes (1000m) and the Chairmans Stakes (1000m). Both of those runs were at Caulfield and the son of Pierata went 6.1 lengths faster than standard last time. He should enjoy the run of the race from barrier 4 and comes into this second up.
Eneeza was no match for Coleman in that race but did produce the same time over the last 400m and last 200m as the winner, which were up amongst the best of the entire meeting.
Lady Of Camelot is an interesting runner. She was luckless on debut last September before resuming with a three length win in the Widden Stakes (1100m) at Rosehill on February 3. The Waterhouse/Bott galloper went 10.6 lengths faster than standard benchmark, which is a better figure than what any runner has produced. They were running some electrifying times in other races that day but she has to be considered, despite drawing awkwardly in barrier 13.
Is there a roughie that can feature? Spywire was 3rd in the Magic Millions Classic (1200m) at the Gold Coast back in January behind the impressive Storm Boy. He has been a drifter, despite drawing barrier 2. Alternatum (5th) and In Her Eyes (7th) worked home well in the Fillies Prelude, with In Her Eyes producing the fastest last 200m. Connections will be sweating on a run for that pair as they are both emergencies.
Dublin Down was ok on debut when 4th behind Bodyguard before improving to claim the Maribyrnong Plate (1000m) on Melbourne Cup day. The Tony McEvoy-trained galloper is first up and might need to produce something special, as will others in the race that come out of weaker races.
BLUE DIAMOND STAKES TIPS AND BEST BETS
Coleman had the measure of Eneeza last time but I wouldn’t mind having something on the latter. She was flat footed when the race heated up, coming from the back off what was a very slow early tempo. The daughter of Exceed And Excel should appreciate the step up to the 1200m and it is worth noting that she improved 11 lengths on benchmark figures off a similar break back in November/December last year. Having said that, Coleman should have improvement to come and is a little untapped. The other one that represents value at the price is Matisse. The Freedman stable always have their juveniles peaking at the right time and have claimed this race in two of the past three years. Their filly just needs to find clear air at the right time from barrier 1. Luke Currie rides and had success with the stable in this race on Artorius two years ago.
