Full field of 16 to go around in Ladbrokes Blue Diamond Stakes

A full field of sixteen two year olds will go around in the Group 1 $1.5m Ladbrokes Blue Diamond Stakes (1200m) at Caulfield today.

Extreme Choice remains the favourite for the Ladbrokes Blue Diamond Stakes at Caulfield. Photo by Steve Hart.

Extreme Choice remains the favourite for the Ladbrokes Blue Diamond Stakes at Caulfield. Photo by Steve Hart.

The three emergencies, Selenia, Seaburge and Revolving Door weren’t needed, allowing the favourite Extreme Choice to move in two barrier positions.

The Mick Price trained Extreme Choice will now jump from gate eleven and remains the clear favourite at Ladbrokes.com.au at $2.70.

Stablemate and second favourite Flying Artie ($5.50) will also move in two places and jump from gate fifteen.

Extreme Choice has raced on the pace at his only two starts for two wins and jockey Craig Newitt should have no trouble crossing in the early stages to find a spot in or near the lead.

“He is going to race in the first four or five, there is no doubt about that,” Newitt said.

“He is a good beginner, he has good gate speed and it is probably not the end of the world for him.

“We will sort of sum it up in the first couple of hundred metres, he begins really good and on Tuesday morning we worked him with a mate, he sat a couple of lengths off it and was happy to dawdle along in behind.

“I think that he has a couple of strings to his bow and his best attribute is his turn-of-foot.”

While Flying Artie’s pattern of racing is to settle back in the field and Damien Oliver will be looking to find some cover mid race before making his final run down the middle of the track.

The two highest rated fillies, Concealer ($6) and Samara Dancer ($6.50) have both drawn well and should get nice runs back in the field and hope for some luck in the straight.

The Tony McEvoy trained Concealer with Mark Zahra to ride will jump from gate five with Dom Tourneur on Samara Dancer drawn to her immediate inside.

The Peter Moody trained Hell Of An Effort ($51) has drawn the rails and with the blinkers on for the first time should take up a prominent position for Luke Nolen.

Blue Diamond Stakes market order at Ladbrokes.com.au: $2.70 Extreme Choice, $5.50 Flying Artie, $6 Concealer, $6.50 Samara Dancer, $10 Star Turn, $21 Miss Nymeria, $26 Zamzam, Valliano, $51 Hell Of An Effort, $61 Power Trip, Artei, $81 China Dream, Sweet Sherry, Hey Doc, $101 Highland Beat, $151 Kinetic Design.

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.