Caulfield, G3 Neds Blue Diamond Preview (fillies), $160,000, 1000m
Grahame Begg's Dosh (Rich Enuff), was wayward but nonetheless impressive in her one previous start in the G3 Ottawa S., and looks the one to beat as the Blue Diamond series kicks off at Caulfield on Australia Day.
The smart filly, purchased by Begg for $155,000 at the Inglis Classic Yearling Sale, looks to have returned in good order in a recent jump-out at Sandown, and more importantly there was no sign of the errant manners which almost cost her victory on debut.
Dosh (black and red cap)
Her main rival on exposed form would appear to be the Anthony and Sam Freedman-trained Godolphin filly Frost Flowers (Frosted {USA}), who impressed with her Flemington win on New Year's Day.
The half-sister to Hanseatic (Street Boss {USA}), who won the colts' division of this race so impressively last year, has the right profile heading into this contest and has that benefit of that recent run under her belt.
Tayla's Moment (Shalaa {Ire}) was runner-up behind Frost Flowers at Flemington, and the Matthew Ellerton and Simon Zahra-trained filly should come on for that run, while another filly by Arrowfield shuttler Shalaa (Ire), Saasmit, who is trained by Ciaron Maher and David Eustace, comes off an easy 3l win at Murray Bridge last time out.
Of the unraced brigade, the recent Werribee trial winner Toffee Street (Street Boss {USA}) looks capable of causing an upset first-up, as does another Ellerton-Zahra runner in Viviane (Written Tycoon), who was runner-up behind star filly Enthaar (Written Tycoon) on the same Werribee trial program.
Caulfield, Listed Neds Blue Diamond Preview (colts and geldings), $160,000, 1000m
Mick Price and Michael Kent Jnr’s Extreme Warrior (Extreme Choice) was runner-up in the Listed Debutant S. at his first run back in the spring and carried a considerable boom on him having been recently purchased into by Rosemont Stud.
The boom grew a bit bigger when he impressively won a recent Sandown jump-out, beating quality filly Dosh, and looks set to try an emulate his own sire and target the G1 Blue Diamond S. next month.
This isn't a straightforward task and the Ellerton-Zahra trained General Beau (Brazen Beau), who was an impressive winner of the season's first 2-year-old race at Flemington back in September before running second in the Listed Maribyrnong Plate, looks the one to beat.
Gulf Of Suez (Fighting Sun) is unbeaten in two Adelaide starts for Maher and Eustace and can not be dismissed, while Lloyd Kennewell's pair Abseiler (Extreme Choice) and Marine One (Capitalist), both bring recommendations on their debut runs. Abseiler was a recent Flemington winner, while Marine One was placed in the G3 Maribyrnong Plate.
The Freedman-trained Midwest (Zoustar) showed plenty of speed in a recent Mornington jump-out and looms as the best credentialled of the unraced brigade.
Caulfield, Listed John Dillon S. $140,000, 1400m
The Clinton McDonald-trained Never Again (High Chapparal {Ire}) chases back-to-back stakes victories and takes on many of the same horses he defeated in the Listed Chester Manifold S. at Flemington a couple of weeks ago.
Brave Song (Your Song) was third in that race, Guizot (Ire) (Tertullian {USA}) fourth and Blazejowski (Dash For Cash) sixth, and while Never Again rises in the weights off that win, he should have the measure of these again on his home track.
Never Again
The fresh blood comes in the form of the Danny O'Brien-trained Viral (Al Maher), who was an impressive winner in benchmark company at Flemington on January 16. He steps up to stakes company for the first time since May 2019, but this looks a winnable race.
Morvada (Mossman), consistent at Group level without winning through the spring, resumes for Peter Jolly, but doesn't boast a strong first-up record, while Dadoozdart (GB) (Dawn Approach {Ire}) creates interest at his first start for the campaign for Team Hawkes.
Caulfield, Listed Neds WJ Adams S., $140,000, 1000m
Promising filly All Banter (I'm All The Talk) elevates to stakes company for just the second time in her burgeoning career, taking on the older horses here off a couple of strong wins at Morphettville and Moonee Valley in November.
Her main rival would appear to be the Phillip Stokes-trained Shamino (Shamus Award), a winner of the Listed Doveton S. last campaign, while Lindsey Smith's Riding The Wave (Malibu Moon {USA}) drops back from 1400 metres to 1000 metres, which looks an intriguing tactic.
Prezado's (Denman) best would see him in the finish here, as would Bon's Away's (Bon Hoffa) but both were unplaced in the Listed Kensington S. last time out.
From Within (Not A Single Doubt) has good first-up form and won at this track when fresh last time in. She might be the one to cause the upset should she get things to her favour up on the pace.
Warwick Farm, Listed Australia Day Cup, $150,000, 2400m
Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott's import Wolfe (Jpn) (Novellist {Ire}) gets his chance to secure another stakes win, having been narrowly beaten in the Listed January Cup last time out.
The 6-year-old has only been over the 2400 metres once before, when a creditable 13th in the G1 Caulfield Cup in 2019 and gets the right class of race to get back on the winner's list for the first time in a while.
Wolfe (Jpn)
The Mark Newnham-trained Skymax (Ger) (Maxios {GB}) has made good progress in his three runs in Australia, including a win over this track and distance two back. The 5-year-old has more to come in terms of improvement and could be the one to watch in this race.
We can expect the always consistent Grey Lion (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) to be thereabouts again in an even race, while Elaborate (Excelebration {Ire}) is another one who doesn't know how to run a bad race, finishing third in the $1 million Magic Millions Trophy last time out.
