Melbourneâs premier autumn race for two-year-olds is the 2017 Ladbrokes Blue Diamond Stakes, betting markets for the Group 1 at Caulfield on Saturday led by Catchy.
Catchy leads the pre-field 2017 Ladbrokes Blue Diamond Stakes odds for the Group 1 this weekend at Caulfield. Photo: Ultimate Racing Photos.
The official $1.5 million Group 1 Ladbrokes Blue Diamond Stakes (1200m) field is announced on Tuesday, but all-in betting at race sponsor Ladbrokes.com.au has the Lindsay Park-trained filly Catchy on top at $5.50.
Co-trainer David Hayes has prepared five previous Blue Diamond Stakes winners and the undefeated Fastnet Rock filly Catchy is tipped to hand him a sixth nine years on from his last with Reaan (2008).
She is three-from-three to date and was last seen narrowly winning the Group 3 Blue Diamond Fillies Prelude (1100m) on February 11.
The 1200m is an unknown for her and most of the Ladbrokes Blue Diamond Stakes field, but Catchy looks on track to become the first filly to complete the double since Earthquake (2014).
Close second favourite in Blue Diamond Stakes odds paying $6 for the win is the Peter & Paul Snowden-trained Pariah, the team having won the race with Pride Of Dubai (2015) two years ago.
Redouteâs Choice colt Pariah won the Group 3 Canonbury Stakes (1100m) in Sydney on debut in late January before travelling to Melbourne for the close second behind Property in the colts and geldings edition of the Prelude.
Property does not currently hold a nomination and today, Monday February 20, is the final cut off for connections to pay the $55,000 late Blue Diamond Stakes entry.
The bookies are taking no chances with the Robert Smerdon-trained Prelude winner, Property at $8 in futures markets to win.
Catchyâs stablemate Formality meanwhile is shorter at $7.50, the also undefeated filly last seen winning the Group 3 Chairmanâs Stakes (1000m) at Caulfield on February 4 by one and a half lengths.
The other best in pre-field Blue Diamond Stakes odds is the Ciaron Maher-trained Jukebox ($10), the son of Snitzel having taking out the Restricted Listed Inglis race over the Blue Diamond track / distance in early February by a smart two lengths.
Jukebox then is one of the few in the mix proven at the 1200m and could be hard to hold out at nice Blue Diamond odds with the right draw.
Leading the Blue Diamond Stakes ballot order is another Lindsay Park hope, Madeenaty who won the Wyong Magic Millions 2YO Classic in December before a last start third to Golden Slipper-bound Houtzen in the Gold Coastâs $2 million edition of the same series over 1200m.
Also high up the latest Blue Diamond Stakes order of entry are the Tony McEvoy-trained Blue Diamond C&G Prelude fourth placegetter Azazel, Michael Freedmanâs Group 3 Widden Stakes winning filly Teaspoon and the John OâShea-trained Medaglia DâOro colt Veranillo.
Veranillo ran a brave second behind the 2017 Golden Slipper favourite She Will Reign last weekend in Rosehillâs Group 2 Silver Slipper Stakes (1100m) and could back-up in Melbourne this weekend.
Check out the latest Ladbrokes Blue Diamond Stakes 2017 odds below provided by the home of Odds Boost (T&Cs apply).