Complete 2017 Blue Diamond Stakes Form Guide

The 2017 Ladbrokes Blue Diamond Stakes form guide is vital reading for punters ahead of the Group 1 feature race at Caulfield Racecourse on Saturday afternoon.

Catchy's ability makes for terrific reading in the Ladbrokes Blue Diamond Stakes Form Guide. Photo: Ultimate Racing Photos

Catchy’s ability makes for terrific reading in the Ladbrokes Blue Diamond Stakes Form Guide. Photo: Ultimate Racing Photos

A talented field including some of the nation’s best two-year-olds has been confirmed for the autumn feature and we have analysed each horse in detail, in order for you to find the 2017 Ladbrokes Blue Diamond Stakes winner.

Some of the horses set to contest the 2017 Blue Diamond Stakes are yet to be tested at 1200m, but each has displayed plenty of ability leading into the race.

Property

Connections elected to pay a late nomination for exciting colt Property after a string of impressive performances at black type level. The Robert Smerdon-trained juvenile stamped himself as one to watch when he finished second behind Catchy on debut and will be seeking a third-consecutive race win on Saturday after saluting in each of the Listed Blue Diamond Preview C&G (1000m) and Group 3 Blue Diamond Prelude C&G (1100m) most recently. Drawn in the ideal barrier 3 and with Hong Kong hoop Joao Moreira aboard, Property should be right in the finish of the Blue Diamond Stakes.

Azazel

Scratched.

Jukebox

Many industry professionals have declared Jukebox the 2017 Ladbrokes Blue Diamond Stakes winner after he was allocated barrier 4 earlier in the week and the colt’s form makes for good reading. Having debuted for a comfortable win over 1100m at Geelong on January 20th, the Snitzel colt flew home to win the Inglis Premier (1200m) by two lengths on February 4th. Saddled by the in-form Ciaron Maher stable, Jukebox is a serious chance of winning the Blue Diamond Stakes on proven ability.

Pariah

One of two runners for Sydney partnership Peter & Paul Snowden in the Ladbrokes Blue Diamond Stakes field, Pariah is another horse that has displayed plenty of raw ability, but will need luck from a wide draw. Pariah is yet to be tested over 1200m, but worked to the line well for a win in the Group 3 Canonbury Stakes (1100m) and a second place finish in the colts and geldings prelude.

Wait For No One

One of six for the Lindsay Park operation, Wait For No One has been something of an inconsistent performer through four career starts and could find the Blue Diamond Stakes 2017 a field too far, this early in his career. There’s several noted pacesetters in this field and it is tough to see where Wait For No One will fit into the race from something of an awkward barrier.

Aspect

Aspect is another horse that is potentially outclassed in the Ladbrokes Blue Diamond Stakes field. He returned to the races for seventh in the Group 3 Chairman’s Stakes (1000m) on February 4th and would have to improve off that run tenfold if he is any chance at all.

Cao Cao

Trainer Mick Price earmarked the Ladbrokes Blue Diamond Stakes for Cao Cao when he finished second in the Group 3 Maribyrnong Plate (1000m) on debut in November, but the colt was a bit flat when he returned to the races for sixth in the Blue Diamond Prelude. Cao Cao is by no means the worst horse in this field and he is a chance at big odds.

Taking Aim

Taking Aim is yet to win a race and faces a big task in breaking his maiden in the Blue Diamond Stakes. The son of Choisir undoubtedly produced his best performance to date when second in the Listed Talindert Stakes (1100m) last weekend, but that was down the Flemington straight.

Muraahib

Muraahib is yet to line up at black type level, but was last seen winning a Sale minor over 1200m by close to six lengths. The Reset colt is something of an unknown entity in this field, but the ability is there and he will be partnered by regular hoop Steven Arnold.

Will’s Bid

Will’s Bid is in the Ladbrokes Blue Diamond Stakes field to make up the number and it would be a real boilover to see this horse within striking range, particularly from barrier 16. Will’s Bid was last seen finishing tenth in the Blue Diamond Prelude.

Catchy

Catchy has been one of the Ladbrokes Blue Diamond Stakes leading contenders since she made her debut in early December and her versatility means that she is undoubtedly the horse to beat on Saturday. Winning with complete ease at her first two starts, the daughter of Fastnet Rock was settled off pace in the Group 2 Blue Diamond Prelude F (1100m) a fortnight ago and flew home to continue her unbeaten career start. The only query is her barrier, but jockey Craig Williams is confident she will have no problems from the draw and is thrilled to be aboard.

Formality

Formality is another standout for Lindsay Park in the Blue Diamond Stakes field and should receive a gem of a ride by leading international hoop Ryan Moore, albeit from a tough barrier. Hitting the line five lengths ahead of her rivals in a Werribee minor over 1100m on debut, the Fastnet Rock filly franked the form when she won the Chairman’s Stakes last time out; a race won by Extreme Choice in the lead-up to last year’s Blue Diamond.

Tulip

Tulip has received the greatest share of attention in Blue Diamond Stakes betting markets at the time of publishing and the filly is a real chance of justifying the trend. A smart winner at Moonee Valley on debut, the daughter of Pierro worked home well for second in the Blue Diamond Preview last time out and appears as though she will relish a step up in distance. Champion hoop Damien Oliver takes the ride from a central draw.

Spoils

Scratched.

Roomooz

Roomooz is drawn well, weighted well and will be partnered by Dwayne Dunn in the Blue Diamond Stakes, and is another runner who is worth consideration at current odds. Comfortably winning the Projection Graphics Plate (1000m) at Morphettville on debut, the Fastnet Rock filly was held up before finding ground and hitting the line well for fourth in the Blue Diamond Prelude F.

Blondie

Only the third Group 1 runner for trainer Brendan McCarthy, Blondie is stepping into uncharted territory on Saturday and is subsequently another horse that probably won’t be in the finish of the race. Her preparation has already been hampered after she was scratched from the Blue Diamond Prelude F and her form is tough to line up with any other horse in this fied.

Sheer Madness

Sheer Madness was the only Blue Diamond Stakes emergency, but has gained a run after the scratchings of Azazel and Spoils. The Moshe juvenile is yet to show much through two starts and was last seen finishing ninth in the Blue Diamond Prelude C&G a fortnight ago.

About The Author

Jared Timms

Jared graduated with a journalism degree in 2011. He is a keen sports fan and has enjoyed many accolades for his lively writing style and comprehensive coverage of major sporting events and horse racing. Today, you can find Jared cheering on his beloved Manchester City with a beer in hand.