Lindsay Park has 6 runners in 2017 Blue Diamond Stakes Field

The Lindsay Park Team of David and Ben Hayes and Tom Dabernig have qualified six two-year-olds for the final field for the 2017 Group 1 $1.5m Ladbrokes Blue Diamond Stakes (1200m) at Caulfield on Saturday.

Catchy, above, is one of six runners the Lindsay park Team has qualified for the 2017 Ladbrokes Blue Diamond Stakes at Caulfield. Photo by Ultimate Racing Photos.

Catchy, above, is one of six runners the Lindsay park Team has qualified for the 2017 Ladbrokes Blue Diamond Stakes at Caulfield. Photo by Ultimate Racing Photos.

Catchy heads up the Lindsay Park team of youngsters with Craig Williams choosing the Fastnet Rock filly as his mount after having the choice of several other well fancied runners.

Catchy is the winner of all her three race starts and was strong to the line in beating the Darren Weir trained Limestone in her last start win in the Group 2 $200,000 Ladbrokes Blue Diamond Prelude (F) (1100m) (1100m) at Caulfield on February 11.

Limestone was not nominated for the Ladbrokes Blue Diamond Stakes and connections decided against paying the $55,000 late entry fee.

Co-trainer David Hayes is chasing his sixth Ladbrokes Blue Diamond Stakes win while Williams is yet to salute in the glamour Autumn Carnival feature for the two year olds.

Lindsay Park’s other runners are Wait For No One (Regan Bayliss), Muraahib (Steven Arnold), Will’s Bid (Damian Lane), Formality (Ryan Moore) and Tulip (Damien Oliver).

“They are feeling good. They have worked well and are sound,” Hayes told The Daily Telegraph.

“I’m in a better place than if I’ve got no runners.

“I haven’t got an order until after the barrier draw. My three fillies (Catchy, Formality and Tulip) have done everything right going into a Blue Diamond.”

“Muraahib has won both of his starts with his head on his chest and Wait For No One was beaten just under a length in the Prelude.”

“He’s (Will’s Bid) a hard one to judge, but I know he’s a very good horse and shouldn’t be at those odds.”

Williams also had the choice to ride the Robert Smerdon trained Property in the Ladbrokes Blue Diamond Stakes but after the connections paid the $55,000 late entry fee Hong Kong’s leading jockey Joao Moreira was booked to ride.

Property has looked impressive winning his last two starts at Caulfield with Williams in the saddle in the Listed $150,000 Ladbrokes Blue Diamond Preview (C&G) (1000m) on January 26 and in the Group 3 $200,000 Ladbrokes Blue Diamond Prelude (C&G) (1100m) on February 11.

Jukebox is another of Williams rejects with Luke Nolen taking the ride on the Ciaron Maher juvenile who is undefeated from two starts with a win in an 1100m Geelong 2yo Maiden on January 12 and in the Restricted Listed $250,000 Inglis Premier (1200m) at Caulfield on February 4.

Trainer Tony McEvoy has also qualified multiple runners with Azazel (Kerrin McEvoy), Aspect (Luke Currie) and Roomooz (Dwayne Dunn) all lining up in the Ladbrokes Blue Diamond Stakes.

Last year’s Ladbrokes Blue Diamond Stakes winning trainer Mick Price will saddle up Cao Cao with Make Zahra taking the ride and the Fastnet Rock colt is coming off a last start sixth to Property in the Ladbrokes Blue Diamond Prelude.

Co-trainers Peter and Paul Snowden who won the race in 2015 with Pride Of Dubai have Pariah and Taking Aim running for the stable this year.

Caulfield trainer Clinton McDonald has Spoils in the final field with Ben Melham to ride while Blondie from the Brendan McCarthy stable makes up the sixteen runners with John Salanitri’s Sheer Madness being listed as the first emergency.

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.