Cover image courtesy of The Image Is Everything
No. 1 - Rue De Royale (NZ) (Per Incanto {USA} x Urban Royal by Exceed And Excel)
Trainer: Tony and Calvin McEvoy
Jockey: Chad Schofield
Barrier: 17
By the same stallion - Little Avondale Stud's Per Incanto (USA) - as last year's winner Little Brose (NZ), Rue De Royale (NZ) goes into the race as a maiden who at his most recent outing was a good finisher when second in the R. Listed Inglis Millennium won by Fully Lit (Hellbent).
Bred by Little Avondale and R.A Williams, the colt was purchased by McEvoy Mitchell Racing and Belmont Bloodstock Agency (FBAA) for $180,000 at the Inglis Classic Yearling Sale. His city-placed dam is out of the stakes-placed Flouze (Zabeel {NZ}) whose dam is the G1 The Galaxy winner La Baraka (Euclase), daughter of the multiple Group 1 winner Triscay (Marscay) who ran third in the 1990 Blue Diamond.
Closely related to the Group 1 gallopers Alizee (Sepoy) and Astern, he attempts to become the third Street Cry (Ire)-line horse to win this race after Little Brose and Pride Of Dubai.
Rue De Royale (NZ) as a yearling | Image courtesy of Inglis
No. 2 - Spywire (Trapeze Artist x Secret Trail by Denman)
Trainer: Ciaron Maher
Jockey: John Allen
Barrier: 18
Bringing the Storm Boy (Justify {USA}) form to Melbourne having run third to him in the R. Listed Magic Millions 2YO Classic, Spywire hails from the sireline of the 1999 Blue Diamond hero Redoute's Choice via Snitzel who is yet to sire a winner of this race.
Though Redoute's Choice has - Undoubtedly in 2005 and Nadeem the year after.
Bred by Widden Stud and R Anderson, (Widden being home to his four-time Group 1-winning sire), Spywire was purchased by Ciaron Maher and Group 1 Bloodstock (FBAA) for $520,000 at the Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale. The colt is from the Listed Bright Shadow H. winner Secret Trail (Denman) whose grandam is the Listed James HB Carr S. winner Trail Of Gold (Danewin) - dam of the G1 Railway H. winner Gold Trail (Hussonet {USA}).
Ciaron Maher searches for his first Blue Diamond S. He has saddled up a number in the market in recent years but is yet to have one figure in the placings.
Spywire | Image courtesy of Ashlea Brennan
No. 3 - Bodyguard (I Am Invincible x Tumooh by Fastnet Rock)
Trainer: Peter and Paul Snowden
Jockey: Mark Zahra
Barrier: 6
His two-time Champion Sire is yet to be represented by a Blue Diamond winner, but this fellow looks a big chance to be his breakthrough on the back of his two wins from as many starts - the Listed Maribyrnong Trial S. in October and the G3 Blue Diamond Prelude (Colts and Geldings) two weeks ago.
Bred by Emirates Park and purchased by the James Harron Bloodstock Colt Partnership for $1.6 million at the Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale, he is out of the unraced Tumooh (Fastnet Rock) whose dam Mossfun (Mossman) won the G1 Golden Slipper S.
Also dam of the G3 Festival S. winner Dajraan (GB) (Frankel {GB}), Mossfun is a half-sister to the durable Singapore galloper Aramco (Magic Albert), an 11-time winner crowned Champion Sprinter with his three successes at Listed level.
The Snowden partnership won the 2015 Blue Diamond with Pride Of Dubai whilst Peter Snowden was also successful in 2011 with Sepoy and 2014 with Earthquake (Exceed And Excel). And Bodyguard's jockey Mark Zahra was aboard the 2022 winner Daumier, who now resides at Twin Hills Stud.
Bodyguard | Image courtesy of The Image Is Everything
No. 4 - Coleman (Pierata x Sboog by Redoute's Choice)
Trainer: Matt Laurie
Jockey: Ben Melham
Barrier: 7
Purchased by his trainer, Matt Laurie, with Justin Bahen for $550,000 at last year's Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale, he is a member of the debut crop of Yulong's G1 All-Aged S. winner Pierata who won one of his four juvenile starts, finishing third in the G2 BRC Sires' Produce S. won by Melody Belle (NZ) (Commands).
Bred by Kulani Park, he is a half-brother to the dual Listed winner Liwa (Mulaazem) out of the lightly raced Sboog (Redoute's Choice), half-sister to the dual Group winner Rothesay and the Listed winner Sensei.
Impressive winning his first two starts - the Listed Debutant S. in October and the G3 Chairman's S. three weeks ago, Coleman seeks to become the second member of the Lonhro sireline to win the Blue Diamond; that great horse's daughter Lyre successful in 2019.
Coleman's damsire Redoute's Choice won the race in 1999 whilst his relation, Sepoy took it out in 2011. And another family member - Canny Lad - was second in 1990.
Coleman | Image courtesy of The Image Is Everything
No. 5 - Stay Focused (Cosmic Force x Coral Reef by Galileo {Ire})
Trainer: Phillip Stokes
Jockey: Daniel Stackhouse
Barrier: 15
Impressive on debut and game in defeat having worked in running when second to Bodyguard in the G3 Blue Diamond Prelude (Colts and Geldings), Stay Focused is a member of the debut crop of his Newgate Farm-based sire.
Bred by Kingstar Farm, he made his way through the Magic Millions sales ring on two occasions - purchased by Blade Racing for $190,000 as a weanling and by Bennett Racing for $250,000 as a yearling.
He is the ninth foal produced by the two-time Victoria provincial winner Coral Reef (Galileo {Ire}) who has been well-represented by seven winners including the stakes placegetters Miss Moana (Uncle Mo {USA}) and Hollywood Mo (Uncle Mo {USA}) as well as the metropolitan winners Apache Star (Star Witness), Ningaloo Star (Deep Field) and Beauty Rising (Deep Field).
Coral Reef is a granddaughter of the G1 Irish Oaks heroine Knight's Baroness (GB) (Rainbow Quest {USA}).
Stay Focused | Image courtesy of Racing Photos
No. 6 - Dublin Down (Exceedance x Dublin Lass by O'Reilly {NZ})
Trainer: Tony and Calvin McEvoy
Jockey: Harry Coffey
Barrier: 3
The first of his Vinery Stud-based, G1 Coolmore Stud S.-winning sire's runners in this race (a good effort from his debut crop), Dublin Down was bred by Ian Smith and purchased by McEvoy Mitchell Racing and Belmont Bloodstock Agency (FBAA) for $370,000 at the Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale.
Improving at each start, coming into this race off a G3 Maribyrnong Plate victory last spring - and an Ararat jump-out win on February 12 - Dublin Down is a son of the very good race mare Dublin Lass (O'Reilly {NZ}).
The winner of seven races including the Listed Starlight S. and the Listed Bright Shadow H., Dublin Down has Blue Diamond history in his pedigree with his G2 Breeders’ Plate-winning fourth dam Fine Recipe (NZ) (Grosvenor {NZ}) being out of the dual stakes winner Lady Lustre (NZ) (Imposing) whose stakes-placed half-sister Trim Girl (NZ) (Sir Tristram {Ire}) produced the 1987 Blue Diamond winner Midnight Fever (Luskin Star).
Two years after her win, the race was won by Courtza (NZ) (Pompeii Court {USA}) whose son O'Reilly (NZ) is Dublin Down's damsire.
Dublin Down | Image courtesy of The Image Is Everything
No. 7 - Traffic Warden (Street Boss {USA} x Efficiently by Exceed And Excel)
Trainer: James Cummings
Jockey: Craig Williams
Barrier: 14
Whilst James Cummings is yet to secure a Blue Diamond trophy - going close when Ingratiating (Frosted {USA}) and Anamoe were in the placings behind Artorius in 2021 - Craig Williams has won it; aboard Catchy (Fastnet Rock) in 2017.
Traffic Warden (who is already a Caulfield winner) races in the royal blue of his breeders and Godolphin have also already won the race on a number of occasions, most recently just two years ago with Daumier.
Traffic Warden - who attempts to become the third Street Cry-line Blue Diamond winner after Little Brose and Pride Of Dubai - is the second foal and the first to race for the winner Efficiently (Exceed And Excel) whose dam is the dual Group-winning highly successful broodmare Dextrous (Quest For Fame {GB}).
All nine of her foals to race are winners including the G1 VRC Oaks winner Willowy (Kermadec {NZ}), the G1 AJC Champagne S. winner Skilled, the dual Group 2 winner Sidestep and the G2 Theo Marks H. winner Ambidexter. And this is also the family of the champion grey Emancipation (Bletchingly).
Traffic Warden | Image courtesy of Racing Photos
No. 8 - High Octane (Deep Field x Granny Red Shoes by Not A Single Doubt)
Trainer: Peter and Paul Snowden
Jockey: Blake Shinn
Barrier: 10
There are high expectations for seven-figure colts and this $1.05 million Inglis Easter graduate (bred by Segenhoe and purchased by the China Horse Club, Newgate, Go Bloodstock and Trilogy) is already proving to be a good buy.
A luckless fifth in the G3 Blue Diamond Prelude (Colts and Geldings) having won the Listed Blue Diamond Preview (Colts and Geldings) at debut, High Octane (the second of the three Snowden-trained runners) is a son of the dual juvenile Listed winner Granny Red Shoes (Not A Single Doubt) whose dam Shoboard (Show A Heart) was also in form early - winning the Listed Keith Mackay H. at just her second start at two.
New Zealand Champion 3-Year-Old Filly and Sprinter Star Satire (NZ) (Volksraad {GB}) also hails from this family and she is the dam of the G2 Silver Slipper S. winner Satin Shoes (Flying Spur), in turn dam of the Listed Gimcrack S. winner Satin Slipper (Pierro) whose son I Am Unstoppable (I Am Invincible) won last year's Listed Redoute's Choice S. - lots of 2-year-old form!
High Octane | Image courtesy of The Image Is Everything
No. 9 - Zestiman (Zoustar x Estijmaam by Exceed And Excel)
Trainer: Ben, Will and JD Hayes
Jockey: Declan Bates
Barrier: 8
Lindsay Park boast a proud Blue Diamond history - CS Hayes cheering on three winners, David a record six and his sons Ben and JD one - last year with Little Brose.
He joined Principality, Canonise, Mahaasin (NZ) (Biscay), Reaan, Nadeem, Sleek Chassis (Flying Spur), Midnight Fever (Luskin Star), Out Of Danger (Atilla {GB}) and Catchy as Lindsay Park Blue Diamond winners.
This year with Will aboard, they saddle up Zestiman who, off a debut win at Flemington in mid-January, was doing his best work late when fifth in the R. Listed Inglis Millennium.
Bred by H Newton and Chesapeake Thoroughbreds, he seeks to become the first Blue Diamond winner for his high-achieving sire. His dam is an unraced daughter of the stakes-placed city winner Sean Baile Mor (Cape Cross {Ire}) from a classy US family whose members include the G1 Breeders Cup Juvenile winner Brocco (USA).
Zestiman | Image courtesy of Racing Photos
No. 10 - Fearless (Pierata x Matildare by Rothesay)
Trainer: Peter and Paul Snowden
Jockey: Michael Dee
Barrier: 16
Michael Dee is hoping lightning strikes twice after taking this race out last year aboard Little Brose.
The second runner after Coleman for his Yulong-based, first-season sire, Fearless was bred by V Lourigan and Highgrove Stud and purchased by the James Harron Bloodstock Colt Partnership for $220,000 at the Inglis Classic Yearling Sale.
His three-time winning dam is a half-sister to the stakes-placed Gold Anthem (Made Of Gold {USA}) who was represented by a Blue Diamond runner - an unplaced roughie in 2009 - but a horse who really went on with it... Starspangledbanner.
This is of course also the family of the Group 1 horses Elvstroem, Haradasun, Circles Of Gold (Marscay), Amicus (Fastnet Rock) and Highland Reel (Ire).
One of the five maidens amongst the acceptances, Fearless has been strong to the line in Group 3 company at his first two spaced outings.
Fearless as a yearling | Image courtesy of Inglis
No. 11 - Hayasugi (Royal Meeting {Ire} x China Road by Commands)
Trainer: Clinton McDonald
Jockey: Jamie Kah
Barrier: 11
Showing that she really knows how to find the line by following up her G3 Blue Diamond Preview (Fillies) success with a win in the G2 Blue Diamond Prelude (Fillies), Hayasugi is a member of the debut crop of her Leneva Park-based sire - a Group 1 winner in France at two.
Bred by MJ O'Donnell, she was purchased by James Bester and C Mok for $47,500 at the 2022 Inglis Australian Weanling Sale. Her unraced dam has also produced the nine-time winner Dynastic (Love Conquers All) and the four-time winner Never Say Nay (No Nay Never {USA}).
This is a good speed family, Hayasugi able to boast amongst her relations the Group 1 winners With Me (Covetous), Accomplice (Canny Lad) and Ugo Foscolo (NZ) (Zacinto {GB}) as well as the last-start G3 Geoffrey Bellmaine S. winner Vagrant (Pariah) who contests Saturday's G3 Mannerism S.
Hayasugi | Image courtesy of The Image Is Everything
No. 12 - Eneeza (Exceed And Excel x Sweet Sherry by Bel Esprit)
Trainer: Peter G Moody and Katherine Coleman
Jockey: Damian Lane
Barrier: 5
A Listed Merson Cooper S. winner at her second outing and strong to the line behind Coleman in the G3 Chairman's S. Eneeza is by the same sire as her co-trainer Peter Moody's 2009 winner of this race - Reward For Effort.
Bred by Grant Bloodstock and purchased by Kia Ora Stud and TFI for $1.1 million at the Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale, she is out of the G3 Euclase S. and dual Listed winner Sweet Sherry (Bel Esprit) who ran sixth in the 2016 Blue Diamond won by Extreme Choice and whose sire won it in 2002.
Sweet Sherry is a daughter of the stakes-placed, multiple city winner Amoroso (Revoque {Ire}) who also produced the triple Group-winning sprinter Arinosa (Dash For Cash).
Eneeza | Image courtesy of The Image Is Everything
No. 13 - Lady Of Camelot (Written Tycoon x Miss Debutante by Fastnet Rock)
Trainer: Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott
Jockey: Adam Hyeronimus
Barrier: 4
The Waterhouse and Bott stable have been dominating this season's juvenile races and they will be very keen to add this race to the tally with Gai Waterhouse yet to take it out - finishing twice on a couple of occasions.
Should Lady Of Camelot - who was close up as favourite in the G3 Gimcrack S. in the spring, resuming with an easy G3 Widden S. victory three weeks ago - succeed, she will be the second by her Champion Sire Written Tycoon to do so. He sired the 2018 winner Written By whilst his grandsire Last Tycoon (Ire) sired two winners - Lady Jakeo in 1993 and Knowledge in 1997.
A homebred for Sir Owen Glenn's Go Bloodstock, Lady Of Camelot is out of the Listed Denise's Joy S. winner Miss Debutante (Fastnet Rock) whose three named foals are all stakes winners - the others being Queen Of The Ball (I Am Invincible) and Platinum Jubilee (Zoustar).
Lady Of Camelot is a fifth-generation stakes winner, her first four dams all black-type performers.
Lady Of Camelot | Image courtesy of Ashlea Brennan
No. 14 - Kuroyanagi (Written Tycoon x Tetsuko by I Am Invincible)
Trainer: Will Clarken and Niki O'Shea
Jockey: Brenton Avdulla
Barrier: 2
The second of her sire's runners, Kuroyanagi was bred by Yarraman Park Stud and purchased by Clarken Bloodstock and Ridgeport Holdings for $390,000 at the Inglis Premier Yearling Sale.
She is out of the juvenile winner Tetsuko (I Am Invincible) who was placed in the Listed Gimcrack S. and the G2 Sweet Embrace S. And she has produced another early comer - Zousuko (Zoustar) placed in a G3 Blue Diamond Preview last year.
Tetsuko is a daughter of the Listed Burgess Queen S. winner Magdalena (Snaadee {USA}), grandam of the South African Champion 2-Year-Old Filly Entisaar (More Than Ready {USA}) and the four-time Listed-winning Perth galloper Mizlecki (Lope De Vega {Ire}).
Kuroyanagi recorded an easy debut win at Gawler before a close and somewhat unlucky second to Hayasugi in the G2 Blue Diamond Prelude (Fillies).
Kuroyanagi as a yearling | Image courtesy of Inglis
No. 15 - Matisse (Microphone x Sanadaat by Not A Single Doubt)
Trainer: Anthony and Sam Freedman
Jockey: Luke Currie
Barrier: 1
Very good filling the placings at her first two starts in the G3 Blue Diamond Preview and the G2 Blue Diamond Prelude (strong to the line having got back from an outside gate), Matisse has excellent jockey, trainer and breeding history for this race.
Luke Currie is going for his third win in the race having steered home Lyre in 2019 and Artorius in 2021. The latter was also a member of the Anthony and Sam Freedman stable whilst the former was trained solo by Anthony. And the pair also cheered Daumier to success two years ago.
A homebred for Murray Thoroughbreds, Matisse is a granddaughter of Exceed And Excel who has sired two Blue Diamond winners - Reward For Effort in 2009 and Earthquake in 2014. Her damsire Not A Single Doubt has also had a coupe - Miracles Of Life in 2013 and Extreme Choice in 2016.
And Matisse can claim amongst her relations one of the most brilliant Blue Diamond winners in Zeditave (1988). Her stakes-placed dam Sanadaat (Not A Single Doubt) is a granddaughter of the dual Listed winner Unison (Marauding {NZ}) whose G3 Blue Diamond Prelude-winning dam Zedagal (The Judge) - eighth in the 1990 Blue Diamond - is a full sister to Zeditave.
No. 16 - Flyer (Exceedance x Miss Toorak Flyer by Toorak Toff)
Trainer: Jason Warren
Jockey: Jye McNeil
Barrier: 13
The second runner for her first-season sire, the race's least experienced runner - winning a Sandown maiden (showing heart after being hit on the nose by a rival's whip!) at debut - Flyer is a homebred for Rosemont Stud.
She is the second foal for her city-placed, four-time winning dam whose first foal is the G3 SAJC Breeders’ S. winner Treasurway (Starspangledbanner). This is a family Rosemont have enjoyed further success with, Miss Toorak Flyer (Toorak Toff) being out of a half-sister to the two-time Listed winner Secret Flyer (Secret Savings {USA}).
Also from this family are the Group winners Almazyoon (Danehill {USA}), Luvaluva (NZ) (Mastercraftsman {Ire}) and Brandenburg (NZ) (Burgundy {NZ}).
Flyer | Image courtesy of Racing Photos
No. 17e - In Her Eyes (Star Witness x Love Spy by Love Conquers All)
Trainer: Leon and Troy Corstens
Jockey: Blaike McDougall
Barrier: 9
The only one of this year's runners to be by a Blue Diamond winner - Widden Stud's Star Witness coming from the clouds to secure success in 2010 - In Her Eyes was bred by Tony Khoury and purchased by Malua Bloodstock for $95,000 at the Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale.
She is out of a two-time winner from the family of the G1 Kingston Town Classic winner Ihtsahymn (Ihtiram {Ire}) and the speedy stakes winners Jestatune (Rory's Jester), Bruckner, Beethoven (Helmet), Catapulted (Catbird) and Jukebox who was scratched on the eve of the 2017 Blue Diamond in which he was well-fancied.
In Her Eyes is still a maiden but she has caught the eye with strong finishes at her first two starts, the latest when seventh from the outside gate in the G2 Blue Diamond Prelude.
In Her Eyes as a yearling | Image courtesy of Magic Millions
No. 18e - Altermatum (Zoustar x Alter Call by Fastnet Rock)
Trainer: Tony and Calvin McEvoy
Jockey: TBC
Barrier: 12
The third of the three Tony and Calvin McEvoy runners (and the second Zoustar) this maiden filly has run very nicely at her first two starts - finishing off well when third in the Listed Maribyrnong Trial at Flemington last spring and fifth first-up in the G2 Blue Diamond Prelude.
Bred by the China Horse Club Racing (who remain in the ownership) and SF Bloodstock, Altermatum was purchased by McEvoy Mitchell Racing and Belmont Bloodstock Agency (FBAA) for $1.15 million at the Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale.
She is sadly the only live foal for her stakes-placed, city-winning dam who died in 2002. She is out of the G1 Sir Rupert Clarke S. and G1 Robert Sangster S. winner Response (Charge Forward) whose daughter Estijaab (Snitzel) won the G1 Golden Slipper S. - and whose son Remarque (Snitzel) won last year's G3 Concorde S.
Altermatum as a yearling | Image courtesy of Magic Millions
