Third declarations taken for Blue Diamond

A record-equalling number of two-year-olds remain paid up for the Group One Blue Diamond Stakes after third acceptances but the filly who sat at the top of betting is not among them.

The Hawkes Racing-trained Estijaab had been at the top of Blue Diamond markets since her dominant debut win last Saturday week in Sydney but the $1.7 million yearling was not among the 84 third acceptors on Tuesday for the February 24 feature at Caulfield.

Estijaab is on the third line of betting for the $3.5 million Golden Slipper in Sydney in March.

Hawkes Racing has six juveniles still in the Blue Diamond (1200m) including Black Caviar’s unraced son Prince Of Caviar.

The Lindsay Park team of trainers David and Ben Hayes and Tom Dabernig have the most entries remaining as the stable pushes to win Victoria’s premier juvenile race for the second-straight year after Catchy’s triumph in 2017.

Lindsay Park’s 16 third acceptors are headlined by unbeaten colt Long Leaf who pressed his claims with his win in Saturday’s colts and geldings Blue Diamond Preview at Caulfield.

The Greg Eurell-trained Lady Horseowner won the fillies Preview and her connections have until February 19 to pay a $55,000 late entry fee.

Trainer Tony McEvoy, who has already claimed this year’s Magic Millions Classic with Sunlight, has 12 Blue Diamond third declarations including Oohood and Run Naan who were placed in their respective Previews on Saturday.

Final acceptances for the Blue Diamond are taken on February 20.