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Three Group 1 features will be run and won, but talented fields have been taken for all ten races, and Blue Diamond Stakes Day looms as another terrific betting program.
If you're yet to do the form, don't worry! We've done all heavy lifting for you below in our complete 2024 Blue Diamond Stakes Day preview.
RACE 1 - 12:15PM: Vale Verry Elleegant (2000m)
Group 1 winner Dunkel steps out in the first on Blue Diamond Stakes Day and rates as a key winning chance again.
The Dundeel gelding was too good for them in the SA Derby back in May of last year, and returned to action with a nice performance for second, beaten a length and a half by a fit Let'srollthedice.4
Having been freshened since returning to winning form at The Valley on December 30th, he's has been kept up to the mark with a recent trial, and something like this does looks an ideal autumn launchpad.
RACE 2 - 12:45PM: Make It Look Easy Handicap (1100m)
Boldinho was included in nominations for the Oakleigh Plate, but there is no doubt that this is a far more appropriate (and winnable) target.
The Brazeb Beau gelding won three races in succession during spring, including the China Bowl at Ararat, while he was last seen finishing fifth over 1400m on Coastal Classic Day.
Getting back to the 1100m this week suits, while he gets some relief from topweight under the urgings of Celine Gaudray.
RACE 3 - 1:20PM: Group 2 Angus Armanasco Stakes (1400m)
Autumn Angel makes her eagerly awaited return to the races in the Angus Armanasco Stakes, and I think that it's the perfect kick-off point for her.
The talented daughter of The Autumn Sun hasn't missed placing in five career starts to date and bookended her spring prep with consecutive wins; last seen winning the Group 3 Ethereal.
She has drawn ideally under Billy Egan, and I can't find a reason why she won't be in the finish.
RACE 4 - 1:55PM: Group 3 Zeditave Stakes (1200m)
I thought that Brave Mead was outstanding in the Manfred Stakes first-up this time, and he can make it two in a row when he takes his place in the Zeditave Stakes field.
The Brave Smash colt has been a model of consistency throughout his ten career starts, but his fresh effort in the Manfred was his best date.
He strips fitter for it and with Blake Shinn retaining the ride, he is my best bet on the program.
RACE 5 - 2:30PM: Group 2 Autumn Classic (1800m)
Immediacy puts an unbeaten record on the line in the Autumn Classic, and something like this doesn't look beyond him.
Immediacy stamped himself as one to watch by breaking his maiden on debut at Cranbourne in December, and he franked that effort with another eye-catching win at Sandown last time out.
The form out of those races has held up, the 1800m at Caulfield this weekend looks absolutely perfect for this son of Tarzino.
RACE 6 - 3:05PM: Group 2 Peter Young Stakes (1800m)
The Australian Cup is just around the corner, and we arrive at the final stop on the traditional path this weekend: the Group 2 Peter Young Stakes.
Just ten horses have accepted into this year's Peter Young Stakes field, but there is a case to be made for a few of them, including Melbourne Cup winner Gold Trip.
Anyone who thought that Gold Trip would drop off after winning race that stops a nation back in 2022 was almost immediately silenced when he returned in this race last year to only just miss.
He returned to that world-beating in the spring and added the Turnbull Strakes to his CV most notably, while also filling the minors of the Caulfield Cup.
He is almost always competitive, he's yet to miss placing here at Caulfield, and I think he'll be in the finish again.
The other horse that I am keen to follow in this race is Foxy Cleopatra.
Foxy Cleopatra has a key fitness edge over several key rivals in this Peter Young Stakes field, and she returned to action to finish second, beaten less than a length in the Carlyon Cup a fortnight ago.
She loves it here, and I thought that the $12 about her in Peter Young Stakes betting (at publish) was over the odds.
2 Units Gold Trip
1 Unit E/W Foxy Cleopatra
RACE 7 - 3:40PM: Group 1 Futurity Stakes (1400m)
The first of three Group 1 feature races on Blue Diamond Stakes Day and unsurprisingly, Mr Brightside has opened a clear favourite in Futurity Stakes betting.
I've put him on top of a Same Race Multi, which you can find in my comprehensive Futurity Stakes Preview RIGHT HERE.
RACE 8 - 4:15PM: Group 1 Blue Diamond Stakes (1200m)
The big one has attracted a talented and open field of two-year-olds, and this really does shape as one of the strongest editions of the Blue Diamond Stakes in recent memory.
I've put Coleman on top, but you can find my full preview and all of my 2024 Blue Diamond Stakes betting plays RIGHT HERE.
3 Units Coleman
1 Unit E/W Eneeza
RACE 9 - 4:55PM: Group 1 Oakleigh Plate (1100m)
Another outstanding edition of the Oakleigh Plate looms, and it is almost always one of the autumn's most open Group 1 features.
I'm having a couple of plays, including King's Gambit, but be sure to check out my full 2024 Oakleigh Plate Preview RIGHT HERE.
3 Units King's Gambit
1 Unit E/W Benedetta
RACE 10 - 5:35PM: Group 3 Mannerism Stakes (1400m)
We were with Revolutionary Miss when she won impressively at Flemington last weekend, and I am keen to stick with her when she goes around in the Mannerism Stakes.
She has always shown above-average ability, but there's no doubt that Revolutionary Miss has kicked it up another gear recently, and she has now won three of her last four starts.
I love that she is on the short back up and with even luck, I can't find any reason why she won't be in the finish again.
