A classy and capacity field of two-year-olds has been confirmed for Saturday’s featured Group 1 Blue Diamond Stakes (1200m) at Caulfield and there is subsequently plenty of value to be taken from a betting perspective. Following Tuesday morning’s Blue Diamond Stakes barrier draw, only five horses have opened at odds of less-than $10 and at the time of publish, we are looking at $7 the field. Long Leaf has enjoyed a perfect career start and the Lindsay Park-trained colt has firmed into $7 favouritism in our 2018 Blue Diamond Stakes betting market after drawing barrier 7 this morning. The son of Fastnet Rock was taken to the lead by jockey Andrew Mallyon at Morphettville on debut in October and while he tired in the late stages of the 1000m sprint, managed to hold on to beat a classy field including the likes of Le Pomme De Pin. Making a successful transition to black type company when he dug deep to take out the Listed Merson Cooper Stakes (1100m) at Sandown three weeks later, Long Leaf justified his favouritism amongst punters when he resumed this time for a half-length win in the Listed Blue Diamond Preview C&G (1000m) on January 27th. There is something of a query over his ability at 1200m, but he will strip fitter for his first-up run and won’t need to do a lot of work early to find a position on pace from his inside draw. Impressive winner Prairie Fire will have plenty of options from the rails draw and has opened a $9 shot in our Blue Diamond Stakes market. The son of Snitzel showed an above-average ability when he mustered a strong turn of foot to fly home for third in the Group 3 Chairman’s Stakes (1000m) on debut earlier this month, before comfortably taking out the Listed Asian Executive Stakes (1100m) at Flemington last weekend. Jockey Mark Zahra was in line for several rides in the Blue Diamond Stakes this year but has elected to retain the ride on Prairie Fire, who will take plenty of beating on Saturday. Plague Stone is yet to break his maiden status, but the classy juvenile has shown plenty of promise through his two career starts and can find his way into the Blue Diamond Stakes winner’s stall. The Lonhro colt trialled extremely well leading into his debut in the Golden Gift (1100m) at Rosehill on November 26th, but was the victim of circumstance when jockey Brenton Avdulla dropped his rein and subsequently finished second. Plague Stone was again outstanding at the trials when he beat a number of handy horses home over 807m at Warwick Farm by more than five lengths on February 1st and resumed for second behind Written By after racing wide and without cover in the Group 3 Blue Diamond Prelude C&G (1100m) a fortnight ago. Plague Stone could enjoy the run of the race from barrier 6 and with natural improvement, can find himself right in the finish. Kinky Boom has only made one appearance at the races so far, but stamped herself as a filly to follow with a dominant win in the Inglis Premier (1200m) on February 3rd. The daughter of Spirit Of Boom has already been a drifter in Blue Diamond Stakes betting and can be taken at $9 at the time of publish, having opened at $7.50. Stable mate Oohood is the only other horses currently available at Blue Diamond odds of less-than $10 and while she has yet to post a maiden career win, has placed in each of the Merson Cooper Stakes, Group 3 Blue Diamond Preview F (1000m) and Group 2 Blue Diamond Prelude F (1100m).
