The race to claim Group 1 honours in February’s $1 million Blue Diamond Stakes (1200m) has already begun, with 1025 yearlings included in initial nominations for the 2014 sprint at Caulfield.

Miracles Of Life winning the 2013 Blue Diamond Stakes. Photo by: Bruno Cannatelli.

A notable horse in the large list of unknown talent is a half-brother to Black Caviar who captured headlines earlier this year when he was bought for $5 million by BC3 Thoroughbreds.

By super stallion Redoute’s Choice from Helsinge – the dam who produced Black Caviar and All Too Hard – the horse nicknamed “Jimmy” will be prepared by John Hawkes and sons Michael and Wayne.

With 581 entrants, Victorian horses dominate nominations but there is set to be a strong interstate contingent in the glamour juvenile race.

New South Wales (581) have a large contingent while 75 South Australian yearlings have been nominated to follow in the footsteps of this year’s winner Miracles Of Life.

An 18-horse group has been entered from Queensland while there also eight from Western Australia as well as a sole Tasmanian entrant.

Miracles Of Life trainer Daniel Clarken has given himself 11 chances of claiming back-to-back Blue Diamonds, with 11 horses from his stable featuring in the long list of hopefuls.

Giving themselves every chance of claiming Victoria’s biggest two-year-old race in 2014 is experienced trainer David Hayes who has nominated 84 yearlings. Hayes is out to go one better than last year after seeing Fast ‘N’ Rocking claim runner-up honours in 2013.

The nation’s big trainers are all well represented in nominations, with Mick Price boasting 70 entrants, Gai Waterhouse 67, the Darley operation 63 and Peter Moody 54.