The latest lead-up to the coveted Ladbrokes Blue Diamond Stakes at the end of the month is the Ladbrokes Chairmanâs Stakes 2017 running at Caulfield Racecourse this Saturday.
Aspect is one of the key 2017 Ladbrokes Blue Diamond Stakes hopes running in the Chairman’s Stakes at Caulfield on Saturday. Photo: Steve Hart.
Due to jump as Caulfield Race 5 at 2:50pm (AEDT), the $150,000 Group 3 Ladbrokes Chairmanâs Stakes (1000m) features a final field of nine two-year-old sprinters.
Many hold a nomination for a possible return to the track on February 25 in the lucrative $1.5 million Group 1 Ladbrokes Blue Diamond Stakes (1200m) including the promising Lindsay Park-trained Formality.
Prepared by David & Tom Hayes and Tom Dabernig, the undefeated daughter of Fastnet Rock pays $15 in futures Blue Diamond Stakes betting at race sponsor Ladbrokes.com.au.
That price could firm further if she wins second-up in Saturdayâs Group 3 on the back of an impressive debut win at Werribee on January 5 by a blistering four and a half-length margin.
Saturday is a step up in class for Formality, but the ease of her maiden win suggest sheâll have no trouble backing-up and giving her rivals something to chase down again.
She has been well-supported early in Chairmanâs Stakes odds backed into clear $3 favouritism and Craig Williams has the mount on the top fancy from gate eight.
Three of her rivals are also under $10 for the win including Aspect occupying the second line of Chairmanâs Stakes betting at $4.50.
Kerrin McEvoy is booked to ride Tony McEvoyâs Pluck colt first-up this weekend after being aboard for the youngsterâs Melbourne Cup Carnival win on debut.
At Flemington on Emirates Stakes Day in November Aspect charged home in the Group 3 Maribyrnong Plate (1000m).
He looks set to be a major carnival contender as he stretches out over a little more distance including the Blue Diamond Stakes if he makes the field, a race he is at a current all-in quote of $21 to win.
The next best fancied paying $5.50 each to win the Chairmanâs Stakes this autumn are Spoils and Time Awaits drawn in barriers four and two respectively.
A $26 shot for the 2017 Blue Diamond Stakes, Spoils is out to break her maiden status having her third career run.
On debut last October she crossed a nostril flare away second behind Wait For No One in the Listed Debutant Stakes (1000m) at Caulfield.
She then resumed at the same track and distance on Australia Day and finished a credible fourth under two lengths off Limestone in the Group 3 Blue Diamond Fillies Preview (1000m).
Time Awaits is drawn well in barrier two this weekend, Dwayne Dunn partnering McEvoyâs other runner in the race.
The Nicconi filly debuted in Adelaide last October and enjoyed a soft three and a half-length win, form she will be out to emulate first-up this weekend in her first Melbourne run.
Check out the full Ladbrokes Chairmanâs Stakes 2017 field, barriers, jockeys and latest Fixed Win odds below complete with market links to Ladbrokes.com.au â home of the $500 first time depositorsâ bonus match bet offer with use of the code BETBONUS (T&Cs apply / excluding NSW).