The 2021 Neds Blue Diamond Series will launch at Caulfield on Australia Day, and the two feature races headline an exciting eight-race program.
There is a total of four black type contests on the card, but you can find a preview of every race and all of my 2021 Neds Blue Diamond Preview Day tips below.
Rainbiel hasn’t been seen at the races since October, but she races well fresh and can make a winning return at Caulfield on Tuersday.
The Toronado filly hasn’t missed placing in five career starts to date, and recorded consecutive wins last prep before ending her preparation third over 1400m here.
She has a class edge over most of these rivals and will take beating.
Hard ‘N’ Tough has been outstanding this prep and looks the runner to beat again in Race 2 at Caulfield on Australia Day.
The Hard Spun mare finished a close-up second in each of her first two starts back this time before filling the minors behind Takumi and Influential Girl in BM78 company here on Boxing Day.
She was last seen comfortably beaten her rivals at Sandown on January 6th and a repeat of that effort would see her into the finish again.
This shapes as an open edition of the Neds Blue Diamond Preview for colts and geldings and there is a case to be made for several, but I’ll be happy to have something on the resuming Extreme Warrior.
Extreme Warrior had made just one appearance at the races so far, but stamped himself as a colt to follow when hitting the line to finish second behind Fake Love in the Listed Debutant Stakes here at Caulfield in October.
He’s drawn to receive a lovely run from barrier 5, can fight out the finish and stamp himself as a leading 2021 Neds Blue Diamond Stakes contender.
The same race but for the fillies, I’m confident that Frost Flowers is the runner to beat in the Blue Diamond Preview Fillies.
Frost Flowers has also made just one appearance at the races so far, but she simply could not have been more impressive at her debut, comfortably winning down the straight at Flemington on New Year’s Day.
She is a half to Hanseatic, and I think that she can enjoy a similarly glittering two-year-old season.
The talented La Mexicana will make her return to the races at Caulfield on Tuesday and looks well placed to win.
La Mexicana is yet to finish outside of the placings in five career starts, and won the Listed Crockett Stakes most notably in spring, before ending her prep second behind Hindaam in the Listed Twilight Glow Stakes.
She obviously races well fresh and will take a power of beating under Jamie Kah.
Never Again appears to have returned to the races in career-best form this time, and the John Dillon Stakes looms as another very winnable feature for her.
The Clinton McDonald-trained mare tuned up with a fair effort for sixth behind Sirius Suspect at Pakenham when fresh and simply hasn’t looked back, winning her last two starts in impressive fashion, including the Listed Chester Manifold Stakes last time.
Fitter fourth-up and from the good draw, I can’t find a reason why she won’t be in the finish again.
There is no denying that Prezado was flat in the Kensington Stakes just over a week ago, but I am happy to give him another chance at Caulfield on Tuesday, particularly at the price ($11 at publish).
Prezado has proven to be an outstanding horse for the Ellerton & Zahra stable throughout the last twelve months, and returned competitive efforts to place in both the Listed Carlyon Stakes and a 1000m dash at Flemington in his first two runs back this time.
His last-start effort was an out-of-character blip on an otherwise strong recent record, and we can have a genuine each-way play at the price on Tuesday.
Dirty Deeds will enjoy good improvement from a credible first-up effort here at Caulfield, and shapes as a key winning chance in the last on Neds Blue Diamond Preview Day.
The Dundeel gelding stamped himself as a runner to follow during the early stafes of spring, and won a BM64 race at Bendigo before ending his prep fourth in BM70 company at Sandown.
He clearly needed the run when resuming here, but with conditions to suit and from the good draw, I think he’ll take beating in this race.