Record Blue Diamond first acceptors

Mick Price has 55 two-year-olds among the first acceptors for the 2017 Blue Diamond Stakes as he bids to emulate his success earlier this year when he trained the quinella.

A record 686 juveniles from 1372 original nominations remain in contention after the first acceptance stage for the $1.5 million race at Caulfield in February.

Maribyrnong Plate-winning colt Aspect from the Tony McEvoy stable is one of two horses added as late acceptors.

Caulfield-based Price trained Extreme Choice to win this year’s Blue Diamond from stablemate Flying Artie.

One of Price’s team of Blue Diamond entries is Maribyrnong Plate runner-up Cao Cao who is the $3.80 favourite for Saturday’s Whiteman Property Plate (1000m) at Moonee Valley.

David and Ben Hayes and Tom Dabernig have 46 first acceptors, one more than Aquanita Racing while Godolphin has 43 and the partnership of Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott 42.

Price has won two of the past five Blue Diamonds with Samaready (2012) and Extreme Choice while Peter Snowden has been successful in three of the past six.

Snowden won with Sepoy (2011) and Earthquake (2014) when he was head trainer for Darley.

He won again with Pride Of Dubai in 2015 in a new training partnership with his son Paul.

Snowden Racing has 31 juveniles still entered for the 2017 race including Breeders’ Plate winner Khan.