The 2015 Blue Diamond Stakes barrier draw has been completed and clear favourite Fontiton will jump from the inside barrier in the Group 1 event at Caulfield on Saturday.
Pride Of Dubai was the big winner of the 2015 Blue Diamond Stakes barrier draw that was conducted at Caulfield this morning. Photo by: Adrienne Bicknell
Fontiton has shown a degree of versatility in her three race starts to date and jockey Mark Zahra will likely have a number of options when the daughter of Turffontein jumps from the inside gate this weekend.
Miracles Of Life had a similar profile to Fontiton heading into the 2013 edition of the Blue Diamond Stakes and she was able to win the race from the inside gate, while Riva Diva (1992) and Hurricane Sky (1994) also took out the race from barrier one.
Pride Of Dubai is currently on the second line of 2015 Blue Diamond Stakes betting markets and his odds are expected to shorten after he drew ideally in barrier five.
Connections of the Street Cry colt elected to pay the late entry fee of $55,000 to get him into the 2015 Blue Diamond Stakes final field after he stormed home late to finish a close second behind Of The Brave in the Group 3 Blue Diamond Prelude (1100m) at Caulfield on February 14.
Barrier five has been one of the most successful barriers in the past 30 years of the Blue Diamond Stakes and Bounding Away (1986), Alinghi (2004), Reward For Effort (2009) and Sepoy (2011) all won the race from the positive gate.
The only other barrier that has produced four winners in the past 30 years is barrier four and that was drawn by Tom Dabernig and David Hayes-trained Air Apparent.
Other horses that will start towards the inside of the Blue Diamond Stakes filed are Inglis Premier winner Stoker (barrier six), Danny O’Brien-trained Prompt Return, Godolphin hopeful Bantam (barrier three) and Magic Millions Classic runner Claudia Jean (barrier two).
Godolphin’s other runner in the Blue Diamond Stakes Sampeah did not fare as well in the barrier draw and will jump from barrier 12, which has produced only one winner in the past 30 years, while Team Hawkes-trained Lake Geneva will be the first horse in history to win from barrier 11 if she is successful on Saturday.
The undefeated Of The Brave is on the third line of betting and he will likely push forward when he jumps from barrier nine, but is sure to be challenged for the lead in the early stages of the race.
Gai Waterhouse-trained Flamboyant Lass was allocated the outside gate at the 2015 Blue Diamond Stakes barrier draw, but the always confident trainer is sure to take solace from the fact that Earthquake jumped from the same gate to win the Blue Diamond Stakes last year.
Fontiton is currently available at 2015 Blue Diamond Stakes odds of $2.50 and is a clear favourite from Pride Of Dubai ($5.50), Of The Brave ($9) and Lake Geneva ($11).
