News

64 Remain In Blue Diamond

1st Feb 2012

Racing And Sports - Wednesday, 1 February 2012

Some 64 two-year-olds remain in the running for the $1 million Blue Diamond Stakes at Caulfield on February 25 after today's deadline for third declarations.

After 162 youngsters remained after second declarations, the number represents the strongest collection of third declarations taken by the Melbourne Racing Club for five years.

Among the juveniles in contention are the Mick Price-trained filly Malasun , impressive winner of the Blue Diamond Preview on Australia Day and the only two-year-old still qualified to take out the $1 million bonus attached to the Blue Diamond Series.

To remain in the running to win the bonus, Malasun must next win the Patinack Farm Blue Diamond Prelude for fillies on February 11.

Race sponsor Patinack Farm remains in the hunt with nine third declarations after originally entering 178 rising two year-olds in July last year.

The leading Patinack contenders trained by John Thompson are Flemington winner Real Stolle and Ferment with both to run in the Preludes on February 11.

David Hayes and Peter Snowden have eight and six third declarations respectively.

Exceed And Excel is the stallion with the greatest number of progeny still entered with eight, followed by More Than Ready (six) and Casino Prince with five.

Heading Snowden's Diamond hopes is the spring Flemington winner Applegate , the talented daughter of Exceed And Excel who won the Listed Emirates Airlines Plate on Melbourne Cup Day.

Snowden won the Blue Diamond last year with his champion colt Sepoy.