Blue Diamond Stakes: What you need to know

BLUE DIAMOND STAKES

1200m, Caulfield, $1,500,000, Two-year-olds

HISTORY

* First run in 1971 when won by Tolerance

NOTABLE WINNERS

* Manikato (1978); Rancher (1982); Bounding Away (1986); Midnight Fever (1987); Zeditave (1988); Redoute’s Choice (1999); Bel Esprit (2002); Alinghi (2004); Star Witness (2010); Sepoy (2011); Miracles Of Life (2013); Extreme Choice (2016).

TALKING POINTS

* The only two-year-old Group One race run in Melbourne

* Trainer David Hayes is chasing his sixth win with and first with co-trainers, son Ben and nephew Tom Dabernig. They have six runners – Wait For No One, Muraahib, Will’s Bid, Catchy, Formality and Tulip. His other winners are: Canonise (1991); Principality (1995); Nadeem (2006); Sleek Chassis (2007); Reaan (2008).

* Trainer Robert Smerdon won with Let’s Get Phyiscal in 1985 and saddles co-favourite Property.

* Dwayne Dunn, who rides Roomooz, is the leading rider with wins on Undoubtedly (2005); Nadeem (2006); Sleek Chassis (2007); Reaan (2008).

* Blue Diamond Preview and Prelude winners to win Blue Diamond: Rancher (1982); Midnight Fever (1987, only filly); Bel Esprit (2002); Sepoy (2011).

WHAT THE KEY PLAYERS ARE SAYING:

“Going into the Diamond this is as good a group as we’ve had for a long time” – trainer David Hayes.

“He didn’t have any luck his last start and he ran super his first start in the Blue Diamond Preview over 1000 metres which didn’t suit him. So getting to the 1200 metres, I think he’ll be well suited” – Frank Salanitri, part-owner and racing manager for brother John, trainer of Sheer Madness.

“He had to win the Prelude to warrant going on and he has done that so he earned his chance and that’s what we’re doing, rolling the dice” – trainer Robert Smerdon on late entry Property.

“She had a bit of mucus down the airway so we decided not to run her. “Everything is all clear now and I’m happy with the way she’s come along” – Blondie’s trainer Brendan McCarthy on missing a lead-up run.