The race day of the Victorian Autumn Carnival containing the most G1 races is Blue Diamond Stakes Day and it is also headlined by Melbourne’s only major for the babies.
Back at Caulfield in 2024 after a year of redevelopment, the Blue Diamond Stakes can show off many a juvenile with a huge talent – often to be seen later in the Spring.
Along with the AU$2m Blue Diamond Stakes, there are also races at the elite level like the 1400m G1 Futurity Stakes and the 1100m G1 Oakleigh Plate.
REDOUTE’S CHOICE would go on to become a legendary sire.
Biggest 2YO contest in Melbourne
Given Australian racing is dominated by speed racing and focused well and truly on the younger brigade coming through, the Blue Diamond will always be a feature. It is always a good form pointer for the Golden Slipper as well.
What it also has a huge bearing on is the breeding side of the sport. Some of the most influential stallions have taken out the big one at Caulfield like REDOUTE’S CHOICE, BEL ESPRIT, STAR WITNESS, SEPOY and EXTREME CHOICE.
REDOUTE’S CHOICE would go on to become a legendary sire.
HIGH OCTANE held off HOLMES A COURT to win the 2024 Blue Diamond Preview.
Road to Blue Diamond Stakes
The winner of the Blue Diamond Stakes often has one, and sometimes two, runs in the lead up events at Caulfield. Run through the month prior, the 1000m Blue Diamond Preview and the 1100m Blue Diamond Prelude provide the trainers with a chance to give their aspiring colts, geldings or fillies a run around the dog-leg that is the Caulfield sprint tracks. The winner HIGH OCTANE in the Blue Diamond Preview on 26 January is no doubt the potential for the Blue Diamond Stakes this year.
LITTLE BROSE from Ben, Will & JD Hayes’ stable won the Blue Diamond Stakes last year.
However winning them hasn’t always been a necessity toward success. Three of the last four winners were just off the winner of the Prelude for the colts and geldings then improved once up to 1200m.
One thing is for certain – you have to watch what members of the Hayes family or the Freedman family have aimed here. They have superb records encompassing around 50 years of training.
LITTLE BROSE from Ben, Will & JD Hayes’ stable won the Blue Diamond Stakes last year.
