The Melbourne Autumn Racing Carnival inches closer on Saturday as the time-honoured Group 1 Blue Diamond Stakes starts to take shape at Caulfield.
The two-year-old sprinters will be on full display in both preview races early on the 10-race card, while the Group 3 Manfred Stakes pits recent Fillies Classic winner Salty Pearl against an equally competitive field over 1200m.
With the first Group 1 of the season only three weeks away, check out who we’re backing on Blue Diamond Preview Day below!
MERRIGOLD (6) can repeat the dose with Jye McNeil sticking.
Her win at Flemington last Saturday was outstanding, charging late off a four-wide run to win by a length over the mile.
John Sadler’s mare rattled off some slick late splits in the process and is drawn to get another well-timed ride off the speed from an ideal gate.
EUROCANTO (1) gets Jamie Melham in the saddle first-up for the Hayes boys.
This colt by Per Incanto put the writing on the wall when he came out and won the Maribyrnong Trial race at Flemington in early October, storming the line late from a midfield position out wide.
He was quickly put away in time for the autumn and really caught the eye when winning a recent trial at Werribee. Drawn well and likely to be saved for the finish again, he looks tough to hold out in the Blue Diamond Preview (C&G).
GHANA’S AKAN (3) looks another strong hope for the Ciaron Maher stable with Jamie Melham on board.
The Street Boss filly caught the eye when running second on debut in the Geelong Diamond to start the month, angling four-wide into the straight to eventually run on well after getting a little wayward early on.
She’s still got some maturing to do, but if she’s saved for late again from the wide gate and finds cover early, she’ll be just as strong when it counts in the fillies’ edition of the BD Preview.
SUPERCILIOUS (14) seems to be nearing another win for Team Corstens and Will Larkin.
She’s gone unplaced in two runs back but was strong to the line last start at Geelong, winding up with a big run to finish fifth.
The mare by Written Tycoon was another one caught five-wide into the straight, and although she’s got a tricky gate to contend with again on Saturday, she’s clearly got a turn of foot that should see her handle 1400m nicely.
EXPULSION (10) gets back up to Saturday grade coming off a confidence-boosting win at Sandown first-up.
The Godolphin filly was all class winning by 1.75 lengths over 100m shorter, hitting her stride three-wide down the straight in what was a comfortable display a long way out from the post.
She was no match at Stakes level last year in the Atlantic Jewel at The Valley, but that isn’t to say she can’t handle this step up in grade with more maturity on her side. Jamie Melham sticks in the saddle, and she’s drawn to find the box seat nice and early.
TRAPALANDA (8) looks ready to peak now with four runs under his belt.
Lightly-raced for a five-year-old, the Archibald-trained gelding has been around the mark in similar contests this prep, finding the cash in all three starts as he gets out over longer distances.
He had a chance to win two weeks ago at Flemington where a four-wide position cost him a stride or two, but he should benefit from the claim on Saturday if Ryan Houston can find cover early around midfield.
OAK HILL (4) is a first-up freak who looks poised to strike on return.
The Hayes boys sent him around in a couple of Stakes races last year before having a crack at the Group 1 Moir at The Valley, valuable experience for a five-year-old looking to take the next step now.
He’s trialed up well running second in a recent heat at Werribee and it helps knowing he’s also a multiple winner over 1000m with six wins and a couple of placings to his name. Another great ride in Jamie Melham’s book, he should be going very close.
MISS OLE (7) is a definite winning chance at each-way odds.
She faded badly last start at Geelong off a lengthy break, looming between a pair of runners down the straight but never really giving much of a kick under Ben Melham.
Make of that performance what you will, but she was a very impressive winner fresh at Sandown to kick off her winter prep last year, backing that performance up with a well-timed win down the Flemington straight where she knocked off Espana right on the line.
Ben Melham knows her inside and out and she’s drawn to get another cozy run along the inside from barrier 2.
Don’t love the gate, but STEPARTY (5) is always a threat over the 1400m trip here at Caulfield.
Paul Preusker’s gelding has found the money all four times he’s lined up over the track/distance, and he does appear close to another win after making up a good chunk of late ground to run second at Headquarters on New Year’s Eve in the Listed Kensington Stakes.
Holding his fitness well despite being in work since last September, he looks a definite winning chance based on his late splits last start.
Another big test here for the in-form TOUCHDOWN (5), who made it three on the bounce a month ago when he gapped his rivals by more than two lengths on the Heath track.
The Hayes-trained gelding has been kept fresh for the run, scratched from a more recent Saturday meeting in favour of this race stepping back to the mile with a recent Werribee trial between runs.
We know he’s an honest type who will run a big race, and since he’s proven himself with big weight, there’s really no reason to doubt him.