A stunning upset unfolded in the 2025 Blue Diamond Stakes at Caulfield, with the Hawkes Racing-trained outsider, Devil Night, defying the odds to claim victory in the prestigious two-year-old feature. The son of Extreme Choice, a $1.4 million purchase for Yulong, entered the race as a $16 chance despite an impressive debut performance when runner-up to Field Of Play in the Prelude.
2025 Blue Diamond Stakes winner Devil Night was good posting a narrow upset at Caulfield. Photo: Ultimate Racing Photos.
“I thought he’d be in the first four or five and I said to Mick [Dee], ‘don’t overcomplicate it, he’s a lovely horse’,” co-trainer Wayne Hawkes told Racing.com after the race. “He’s never been on him but he’s a lovely horse. He does everything right, he’s improved out of sight from his run the other day. I know it’s easy to say after the race, but you can ask Vin [Cox] what I said to him. I said, ‘mate, off his track work, he just wins on Saturday but he’s in a Blue Diamond, so I’m not getting too cocky. In a normal race he’d just win.”
Devil Night’s victory was a testament to his rapid improvement and the astute training of the Hawkes team. He settled just off the pace under a masterful ride from Michael Dee, who secured his second Blue Diamond win in three years. Dee timed his run perfectly, unleashing Devil Night at the crucial moment to hold off the fast-finishing Tentyris, who lunged late but narrowly missed out. Tycoon Star completed the trifecta, adding further surprise to the race’s outcome.
“I’m not bagging Mick Dee but he probably could have waited 50 more yards. At the 100m I was screaming ‘where is that winning post!'” Hawkes added. “Winners are grinners, and no one ever remembers what margin they win by.”
Devil Night’s win was particularly noteworthy as he became only the fourth horse in history to win the Blue Diamond Stakes at just his second career start. This achievement underscores the colt’s immense potential and makes him a valuable stallion prospect for connections.
Looking ahead, the Group 1 Golden Slipper Stakes in Sydney is a potential target for Devil Night. He is currently listed at $21 in all-in markets for the world’s richest two-year-old race at Ladbrokes.
2025 Blue Diamond Stakes Results
| Finish | No. | Horse | Trainer | Jockey | Margin | Bar. | Weight | Penalty | Starting Price | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 5 | DEVIL NIGHT | Michael, John & Wayne Hawkes | Michael Dee | 2 | 57kg | $16 | |||
| 2 | 4 | TENTYRIS | Anthony & Sam Freedman | Damian Lane | 0.1L | 4 | 57kg | $21 | ||
| 3 | 2 | TYCOON STAR | Ben, Will & JD Hayes | Mark Zahra | 1.35L | 14 | 57kg | $17 | ||
| 4 | 8 | THE PLAYWRIGHT | Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott | Regan Bayliss | 2.6L | 3 | 55kg | $21 | ||
| 5 | 16 | EDEN ROSE | Jason Warren | Daniel Stackhouse | 3.35L | 13 | 55kg | $201 | ||
| 6 | 1 | FIELD OF PLAY | Trent Busuttin & Natalie Young | Blake Shinn | 3.5L | 5 | 57kg | $4F | ||
| 7 | 15 | TEMPTED | James Cummings | Craig Williams | 3.9L | 11 | 55kg | $7.50 | ||
| 8 | 11 | MY GLADIOLA | John McArdle | Jamie Mott | 4L | 10 | 55kg | $7 | ||
| 9 | 6 | AUTUMN MYSTERY | Rory Hunter | Patrick Moloney | 4.5L | 15 | 57kg | $41 | ||
| 10 | 14 | CHERISH ME | Ciaron Maher | Ms Jamie Melham | 4.8L | 6 | 55kg | $6.50 | ||
| 11 | 3 | EXTRACTOR | Michael Freedman | Ben Melham | 6.55L | 7 | 57kg | $18 | ||
| 12 | 12 | MISS CELINE | Ben, Will & JD Hayes | Jye McNeil | 8.05L | 9 | 55kg | $41 | ||
| 13 | 9 | PALM ANGEL | Jason Warren | Ethan Brown | 8.3L | 1 | 55kg | $9.50 | ||
| 14 | 13 | WILTSHIRE SQUARE | Ciaron Maher | Harry Coffey | 8.55L | 12 | 55kg | $17 | ||
| 15 | 7 | OLATUNDE | Peter G Moody & Katherine Coleman | Billy Egan | 11.3L | 8 | 57kg | $151 | ||
| 10 | ICARIAN DREAM | Ciaron Maher | Thomas Stockdale |
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Table Credit: Racing Australia.
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