Blue Diamond Stakes Day is one of the biggest programs of the Autumn Carnival, and nine races will be run and won at Sandown on Saturday!
Every race is packed with talent and there’s plenty of value in the markets as well! You can find my 2023 Blue Diamond Stakes Day Tips below.
This is a really interesting start to 2023 Blue Diamond Stakes Day, and the most interesting thing about it is the return of Vow And Declare.
The 2019 Melbourne Cup winner returned to excellent form after a couple of lowly seasons last spring, running third in a over 2500m at Flemington and winning the Zipping Classic.
I love that Danny O’Brien is launching his campaign over 2100m and I’m keen to have a small play.
Some talented filles are engaged in the Angus Armanasco Stakes, including Shuffle Dancer.
Shuffle Dancer has been excellent since returning to the races, recording two wins from four starts and only just missing on another occasion.
She was excellent over 1500m at The Valley last time out, and while this is a noticeable rise in class, it looks well within her means.
A small but excellent field has been taken for Saturday’s Mannerism Stakes, and I am pretty keen on the resuming Barb Raider.
Barb Raider returned in the spring for just one start, a failed title at the Invitation at Randwick in October, but her form during her three-year-old season was outstanding, and she really was unlucky not to win in Group 1 company.
This is a perfect launchpad for her, Craig Williams rides and she should receive every chance from a good draw.
Trainer Jerome Hunter could have a big day at Sandown on Saturday, and Rich Fortune looks a key winning chance in the Zeditave Stakes.
Rich Fortune only just missed on debut at Mornington back in September and was immediately put away, and she made an ideal return to the races with an impressive win in BM70 company at The Valley.
Having franked that win with another one in the Group 3 Kevin Hayes Stakes last time out, this looks the next logical step, and she’ll take further improvement into it.
Pericles will take further improvement into the Autumn Classic, and I think that it looks the perfect black type race for him.
Pericles was excellent during his debut preparation, breaking his maiden on debut and performing well in some talent-rich feature races.
He finished fourth, beaten less than a length in the Group 2 Autumn Stakes when resuming and will enjoy plenty of improvement for that hit-out, while the 1800m should prove a far more appropriate trip for him as well.
I’m with Young Werther second-up in the Peter Young Stakes.
Young Werther has always hinted at above-average ability, and he has picked off some nice races along the way, while also placing in Group 1 company on three occasions.
He clearly needed his first run back when sixth, beaten nearly four lengths in the Carlyon Cup a fortnight ago, but he is a horse that tends to enjoy sharp improvement with a run under his belt, and the 1800m is ideal.
$2 million goes on the line in the Blue Diamond and a typically excellent field of two-year-olds will chase their share, and a place in this history books!
I’ve put Barber on top, but check out my full race preview and complete 2022 Blue Diamond Stakes Tips RIGHT HERE.
A small but outstanding field has been taken for the Futurity Stakes, including some of the best gallopers in Australasia.
I’ve put I’m Thunderstruck on top of my selections, which you can find alongside my remaining 2023 Futurity Stakes Tips RIGHT HERE.
The Oakleigh Plate is one of my favourite Group 1 features of the entire year, and this might be its strongest edition since the turn of the century.
I think that it’s the perfect Group 1 target for Chain Of Lightning, but be sure to check out my complete race preview and 2023 Oakleigh Plate Tips RIGHT HERE.