2016 Ladbrokes Blue Diamond Stakes final field

The final field for the Group 1 $1.5m Ladbrokes Blue Diamond Stakes (1200m) at Caulfield on Saturday has been released with a capacity field of sixteen plus three emergencies to makeup the field for Melbourne’s richest two year old race.

Extreme Choice, above, will carry the number one saddle clothe in the Ladbrokes Blue Diamond Stakes at Caulfield. Photo by Ultimate Racing Photos.

Extreme Choice, above, will carry the number one saddle clothe in the Ladbrokes Blue Diamond Stakes at Caulfield. Photo by Ultimate Racing Photos.

The Mick Price trained Extreme Choice will carry the number one saddle clothe with Craig Newitt in the saddle while his stalemate Flying Artie will be number three with Damien Oliver choosing to stay with the Artie Schiller colt.

Extreme Choice is undefeated from two race starts with victories in the $500,000 Inglis Nursery (1000m) at Randwick on December 12 and in the Group 3 $150,000 Chairman’s Stakes (1000m) at Caulfield on February 6.

Flying Artie was very impressive in winning his second race start when he came from back in the field to take out the Group 3 $200,000 Ladbrokes Blue Diamond Prelude (1100m) for the colts and geldings at Caulfield on February 13, convincing Oliver to select him as his ride over Extreme Choice in the Blue Diamond Stakes.

Adelaide filly Samara Dancer was also impressive in winning the fillies version on the same day, the Group 2 $200,000 Ladbrokes Blue Diamond Prelude (F) (1100m) and will be among the main chances again, especially with the 2kg advantage in the weights the fillies get.

Jockey Dom Tourneur will stick with the Phillip Stokes trained filly.

The Tony McEvoy trained Concealer chased home Samara Dancer in the fillies Blue Diamiond Prelude and will go around again in the Blue Diamind Stakes with Make Zahra sticking with the Nicconi filly.

The Lindsay Park Team of David Hayes and Tom Dabernig have three two year olds in the final field of sixteen, Valliano (Damian Lane), Highland Beat (Luke Currie) and Zamzam (Nicholas Hall) plus second emergency Seaburge.

Leading Caulfield trainer Peter Moody will saddle up one runner in the Blue Diamond Stakes, Hell Of An Effort with Luke Nolen to ride.

The Reward For Effort colt suffered his first defeat from three starts with an out of character thirteenth of thirteen in the $250,000 Inglis Premier (1200m) at Caulfield on February 6 after winning a 1121m Geelong two year old maiden and a 1100m Caulfield two year old Plate.

Ladbrokes Blue Diamond Stakes final field: 1 Extreme Choice, 2 Valliano, 3 Flying Artie, 4 Star Turn, 5 Power Trip, 6 Highland Beat, 7 Hell Of An Effort, 8 Hey Doc, 9 China Dream, 10 Samara Dancer, 11 Concealer, 12 Sweet Sherry, 13 Kinetic Design, 14 Zamzam, 15 Miss Nymeria, 16 Artei, Emergencies: 17 Selenia, 18 Seaburge, 19 Revolving Door.

 

About The Author

Mark Mazzaglia

Mark is a passionate journalist with a life-time involvement in the racing industry. He spent many years as an analyst and form expert at the Courier Mail and also has hands-on experience working with some of Queensland’s top trainers.