Looking for this year’s Blue Diamond Prelude Colts & Geldings betting odds, field and tips? The experts at Neds have put together everything you need to know before this year’s race.
Blue Diamond Prelude Colts & Geldings 2026 Results
The official 2026 Blue Diamond Prelude Colts & Geldings results will be available below once the race takes place on Saturday, February 7, 2026.
- #7 Closer To Free
- #3 Guest House
- #2 Eternal Warrior
Danny O’Brien’s recent impressive trial winner Closer to Free ($13) was huge on debut at Caulfield leading from barrier to box off a confident Michael Dee ride to score an upset win fresh in the 2026 Blue Diamond Prelude (C&G) results. The Street Boss colt easily put his rivals to bed with a big on pace performance to beat the favourite Guest House by a length and firm notably in from $67 to $7 in all-in Blue Diamond Stakes betting for the Feb 21 feature.
| 7. Closer To Free (7) J: Michael Dee57kg T: Danny O'brien | ||
| 3. Guest House (6) J: Jamie Melham57kg 1T: Mick Price & Michael Kent Jnr | ||
| 2. Eternal Warrior (8) J: Damian Lane57kg 1xT: Lloyd Kennewell | ||
| 4. Stretan Ruler (3) J: Lachlan Neindorf57kg 2xT: Phillip Stokes | ||
| 6. High Alert (5) J: Craig Williams57kg 4T: Anthony & Sam Freedman | ||
| 1. Eurocanto (2) J: Luke Currie57kg 1xT: Ben, Will & Jd Hayes | ||
| 5. Invicto (4) J: Ethan Brown57kg 3T: Ciaron Maher | ||
| 8. March On By (1) J: Jordan Childs57kg T: Simon Zahra |
Blue Diamond Prelude Colts and Geldings 2026 Tips
Our exclusive 2026 Blue Diamond Prelude Colts & Geldings tips will be published here the week of the race and a full betting preview available on the Neds Blog.
Run over 1,100 metres in February, the Blue Diamond Prelude Colts and Geldings is a fantastic starting race for unproven colts and geldings.
Starting out as a Listed Race, this race has been held at the Group 3 level since 1986, and it traditionally takes place at Caulfield Racecourse in early February as part of the bumper Blue Diamond Prelude Day race meeting in Melbourne.
This race is a lead up to the Group 1 $2 million Blue Diamond Stakes (1400m), one of the biggest races of the Autumn Racing Carnival held back at the track later in February.
The Blue Diamond Colts & Geldings Prelude – Blue Diamond Stakes double has most recently been achieved by Written By (2018), Sepoy (2011) and Bel Esprit (2002).
In 2022 the Blue Diamond Prelude third placegetter Daumier went on to win the Blue Diamond Stakes next start.
The 2023 Blue Diamond Prelude also produced that year’s Blue Diamond winner with Lofty Strike improving on a second to take out the Group 1 feature that autumn.
In 2025 the Blue Diamond Prelude runner-up Devil Night went on to score an upset Blue Diamond Stakes win at double-figures at his next start.
Blue Diamond Prelude C&G 2026 – Quick Information
- Race Day: Saturday, February 7, 2026
- Track Location: Caulfield Racecourse
- Track Surface: Turf
- Track Direction: Left-handed
- Race Distance: 1,100 metres
- Weight Conditions: Set weights (55.5 kg)
- Qualification: Two -year-olds (colts and geldings only)
- Type: Thoroughbred
- Grade: Group 3
- Operator: Melbourne Racing Club
- Prize Purse: $350,000
- Inaugural Race: 1982
- 2026 Blue Diamond Prelude Colts & Geldings Winner: Closer To Free
Blue Diamond Prelude Colts and Geldings Betting 2026
There are many different ways to bet on the Blue Diamond Prelude Colts and Geldings, and we have included some of the most popular options below.
| Bet Type | How To Place This Type of Bet on This Year’s Blue Diamond Prelude Colts and Geldings |
|---|---|
| Win Bet | Place your bet on the horse you think will take first place in this year’s Blue Diamond Prelude Colts and Geldings. |
| Place Bet | Place your bet on the horse you think will place in the top three finishers at this year’s Blue Diamond Prelude Colts and Geldings. Pays less than a win bet, but offers safer odds. |
| Each-Way Bet | If your runner finishes 1st in the Blue Diamond Prelude Colts and Geldings, you will collect both the Win and the Place dividend. If your horse finishes 2nd or 3rd you will collect the Place dividend. |
| Quinella Bet | You must select the runners that finish 1st and 2nd in any order, within the Blue Diamond Prelude Colts and Geldings, in order to win the Quinella. |
| Exacta Bet | You must select the runners that finish 1st and 2nd in the correct order, within the Blue Diamond Prelude Colts and Geldings to win the Exacta. |
| Trifecta Bet | You must select runners to finish 1st, 2nd and 3rd in the correct order, within the Blue Diamond Prelude Colts and Geldings to win the Trifecta. |
| First Four | You must select runners that finish 1st, 2nd ,3rd and 4th in the correct order, within the Blue Diamond Prelude Colts and Geldings to win the First 4. |
| Quadrella Bet (Quaddie) | You must select the winners of four nominated races to win the Quaddie. This means you would have to select three other races apart from the Blue Diamond Prelude Colts and Geldings, in order to be eligible to place a Quaddie. |
How To Bet on the Blue Diamond Prelude Colts and Geldings
- Log in at neds.com.au
- Make a deposit, using your credit card, PayPal or other safe electronic method
- Make sure to check out form guide, once it’s released
- Decide what kind of bet you’re going to place (Win, Place, Each-Way, Trifecta + more betting options, please read our section on Blue Diamond Prelude Colts and Geldings Betting above).
- Select the horse(s) for the race.
Which Horse Will Win the Blue Diamond Prelude C&G
The best way to pick which horse will win the Blue Diamond Prelude Colts and Geldings in 2026 is to take into account their lead-up autumn racing form, assess the barriers, consider which runners are proven in Group class and those with a good strike-rate at the track.
Additional factors to consider when picking the Blue Diamond Prelude (C&G) include:
- Best Lead Up – The Blue Diamond Preview (C&G), taking place in Melbourne a couple of weeks earlier, at a distance of 1,000 metres, is your best predictor of this race. Hanseatic (2020) followed by General Beau (2021) are the latest horses to do the Preview – Prelude double.
Blue Diamond Prelude Colts and Geldings Favourites 2026
Favourites in 2026 Blue Diamond Prelude Colts & Geldings betting include Home Affairs colt Guest House who won his debut at Cranbourne in late December, the Anthony & Sam Freedman-trained sone of Street Boss High Alert coming off a fourth in the Blue Diamond Preview, and the spring’s upset Listed Merson Cooper Stakes champ Eternal Warrior.
Hanseatic ($2.30 in 2020) followed by General Beau ($3.10 in 2021) are the latest Blue Diamond C&G Prelude favourites to win.
Blue Diamond Prelude Colts and Geldings 2026 Field
The official 2026 Blue Diamond Prelude Colts & Geldings field of final acceptances is announced on the Wednesday of race week and will be published in full below.
The Blue Diamond Prelude (C&G) 2026 field features a small line-up of promising 2YOs including the Listed Maribyrnong Trial winner Eurocanto and the also resuming Eternal Warrior who won the spring’s Merson Cooper Stakes here at the Caulfield track.
| Entrant | Last 6 | Sex | Barrier | Weight | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
1. Eurocanto
J: Luke Currie
T: Ben, Will & Jd Hayes |
1x | C | 2 | 57kg | |
|
2. Eternal Warrior
J: Damian Lane
T: Lloyd Kennewell |
1x | C | 8 | 57kg | |
|
3. Guest House
J: Jamie Melham
T: Mick Price & Michael Kent Jnr |
1 | C | 6 | 57kg | |
|
4. Stretan Ruler
J: Lachlan Neindorf
T: Phillip Stokes |
2x | C | 3 | 57kg | |
|
5. Invicto
J: Ethan Brown
T: Ciaron Maher |
3 | C | 4 | 57kg | |
|
6. High Alert
J: Craig Williams
T: Anthony & Sam Freedman |
4 | C | 5 | 57kg | |
|
7. Closer To Free
J: Michael Dee
T: Danny O'brien |
C | 7 | 57kg | ||
|
8. March On By
J: Jordan Childs
T: Simon Zahra |
C | 1 | 57kg |
Blue Diamond Prelude Colts and Geldings Race Day
The 2026 Blue Diamond Prelude (C&G) takes place on Saturday, February 7, 2026, at Caulfield Racecourse. Previously, racing at the meeting was headlined by the year’s opening Group 1 race, the C.F. Orr Stakes over 1400m, before the Orr was moved to the spring in 2025. Now, along with the Blue Diamond Prelude (C&G), the other key support races on the card include the:
- Group 2 $350,000 Blue Diamond Prelude Fillies (1100m),
- Group 2 $300,000 Rubiton Stakes (1100m),
- Group 2 $300,000 Autumn Stakes (1400m),
- Group 3 $200,000 Kevin Hayes Stakes (1200m) run in 2026 as the Senet Peter Le Grand Stakes,
- Group 3 $200,000 Kevin Heffernan Stakes (1400m), and the
- Group 3 $200,000 TS Carlyon Cup (1600m) run in 2026 as the MRC Foundation Cup.
Blue Diamond Prelude C&G Barrier Draw 2026
The 2026 Blue Diamond Prelude Colts and Geldings barrier draw will be released to the public a few days before the race and published in our above Blue Diamond Prelude Colts & Geldings Field section.
Blue Diamond Prelude C&G Nominations 2026
2026 Blue Diamond Prelude Colts & Geldings nominations close at 12:00 PM on the Monday of race week.
2026 Blue Diamond Prelude (C&G) nominations extended until 10:00am (AEDT) – 03/02/2026
| Last 10 | Horse | Sex | Age | Trainer | Hcp Rating | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 31 | ALIBABA | C | 2 | Ken & Kasey Keys | |
| 2 | CLOSER TO FREE | C | 2 | Danny O’Brien | ||
| 3 | 1x | ETERNAL WARRIOR | C | 2 | Lloyd Kennewell | |
| 4 | 1x | EUROCANTO | C | 2 | Ben, Will & JD Hayes | |
| 5 | 1 | GUEST HOUSE | C | 2 | Mick Price & Michael Kent (Jnr) | |
| 6 | 9x | HARRY MET SALLY | G | 2 | Mark Walker | |
| 7 | 4 | HIGH ALERT | C | 2 | Anthony & Sam Freedman | |
| 8 | 3 | INVICTO | C | 2 | Ciaron Maher | |
| 9 | MARCH ON BY | C | 2 | Simon Zahra | ||
| 10 | 12 | MILSONS POINT | C | 2 | Ciaron Maher | |
| 11 | 0x | RICH ON BUBBLES | G | 2 | Ben, Will & JD Hayes | |
| 12 | SHAH JAHAN | G | 2 | Ciaron Maher | ||
| 13 | 2x | STRETAN RULER | C | 2 | Phillip Stokes |
Table Credit: Racing Australia.
Blue Diamond Prelude Colts and Geldings Weights 2026
Set weights apply to this race. Final 2026 Blue Diamond Prelude Colts & Geldings weights are announced at 4:00 PM on the Monday of race week and will be published in our above Blue Diamond Prelude Colts & Geldings Field section.
Blue Diamond Prelude C&G Acceptances 2026
2026 Blue Diamond Prelude Colts & Geldings final acceptances must be declared before 9:30 AM on the Wednesday of race week and will be published in our above Blue Diamond Prelude Colts & Geldings Field section.
Blue Diamond Prelude Colts and Geldings Jockeys 2026
The final riders must be announced by 1:00 PM on the Wednesday of race week with the official 2026 Blue Diamond Prelude Colts & Geldings jockeys to be published in our above Blue Diamond Prelude Colts & Geldings Field section.
Blue Diamond Prelude Colts and Geldings Prize Money
The 2026 Blue Diamond Prelude prize purse is worth $350,000 in total, distributed from places first through to eighth. The race carries a $10,000 SUPER VOBIS bonus for qualified horses.
| Place | Prize Money |
|---|---|
| 1st | $210,000 |
| 2nd | $63,000 |
| 3rd | $31,500 |
| 4th | $15,750 |
| 5th | $8,750 |
| 6th | $7,000 |
| 7th | $7,000 |
| 8th | $7,000 |
Blue Diamond Prelude Colts and Geldings Race Number 2026
The 2026 Blue Diamond Prelude Colts and Geldings race number is scheduled as Caulfield Race 3 at 1:20pm (AEDT) on Saturday, February 7, 2026. There are ten races in total that day at Caulfield Racecourse.
Blue Diamond Prelude Colts and Geldings Form Guide 2026
The final form guide will be available the week of the race. You can check below for a link to our full 2026 Blue Diamond Prelude (C&G) Form Guide following final acceptances.
CLICK HERE FOR THE FULL 2026 BLUE DIAMOND PRELUDE (C&G) FORM GUIDE
Blue Diamond Prelude Colts and Geldings Live 2026
You can watch or listen to the 2026 Blue Diamond Prelude live, across the following mediums.
Pay television: Sky Racing 1 (channel 526 on Foxtel)
Free to air television: Channels 78 (and 68 in regional areas)
Radio: Radio Sport National
Streaming: Racing.com
Mobile: Neds App
Blue Diamond Prelude Colts and Geldings Winners
Winners of this race for the going back to 2001 are displayed in the table below.
| Year | Winner | Trainer/s | Jockey | Weight | Time |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | Closer To Free | Danny O’Brien | Michael Dee | 57 kgs | 1:03.10 |
| 2025 | Field Of Play | Trent Busuttin & Natalie Young | Blake Shinn | 57 kgs | 1:04.15 |
| 2024 | Bodyguard | Peter & Paul Snowden | Mark Zahra | 57 kgs | 1:03.64 |
| 2023 | Barber | James Cummings | Ms Jamie Kah | 57 kgs | 1:03.99 |
| 2022 | Lofty Strike | Julius Sandhu | Jamie Mott | 57 kgs | 1:03.98 |
| 2021 | General Beau | Matthew Ellerton & Simon Zahra | Ms Jamie Kah | 57 kgs | 1:03.58 |
| 2020 | Hanseatic | Anthony Freedman | Luke Currie | 55.5 kgs | 1:03.08 |
| 2019 | I Am Immortal | Anthony Freedman | Ben Melham | 55.5 kgs | 1:04.44 |
| 2018 | Written By | Grahame Begg | Jordan Childs | 55.5 kgs | 1:04.98 |
| 2017 | Property | Robert Smerdon | Craig Williams | 55.5 kgs | 1:03.78 |
| 2016 | Flying Artie | Mick Price | Damien Oliver | 55.5 kgs | 1:03.04 |
| 2015 | Of The Brave | Mark Riley | Stephen Baster | 55.5 kgs | 1:03.66 |
| 2014 | Rubick | Gerald Ryan | Brenton Avdulla | 55.5 kgs | 1:03.71 |
| 2013 | Kuroshio | Peter Snowden | Kerrin McEvoy | 55.5 kgs | 1:04.10 |
| 2012 | General Rippa | David Hayes | Damien Oliver | 55.5 kgs | 1:04.15 |
| 2011 | Sepoy | Peter Snowden | Mark Zahra | 55.5 kgs | 1:03.05 |
| 2010 | Beneteau | Paul Messara | Daniel Ganderton | 55.5 kgs | 1:02.45 |
| 2009 | Real Saga | Michael, Wayne & John Hawkes | Damien Oliver | 55.5 kgs | 1:03.71 |
| 2008 | Wilander | Lee Freedman | Luke Nolen | 55.5 kgs | 1:03.90 |
| 2007 | Shrewd Rhythm | Greg Eurell | Glen Boss | 55.5 kgs | 1:03.40 |
| 2006 | Due Sasso | Brian Mayfield-Smith | Nash Rawiller | 55.5 kgs | 1:03.45 |
| 2005 | Perfectly Ready | Mick Price | Steven King | 55.5 kgs | 1:03.90 |
| 2004 | Way West | Tony McEvoy | Nash Rawiller | 55.5 kgs | 1:03.41 |
| 2003 | Hammerbeam | John Hawkes | Darren Gauci | 55.5 kgs | 1:03.73 |
| 2002 | Bel Esprit | John Symons | Wayne Treloar | 55.5 kgs | 1:05.21 |
| 2001 | Lonhro | John Hawkes | Brett Prebble | 55.5 kgs | 1:03.39 |