AUSTRALIAN HORSE RACING IS IN FULL SWING
AUSTRALIAN TRIPLE CROWN TRAILS ARE IN FULL SWING!
Here in the United States, we're in the mid of the Derby trails with the Rebel Stakes scheduled to take place on Sunday February 23, 2025 -- while in Australia, they have their own Triple Crown trails as well, with the BLUE DIAMOND STAKES scheduled to take place Saturday February 22, 2025.
Actually, Saturday in Australia is Friday for us in the US -- Friday night to be exact -- with first post at 9 p.m. Central Time.
The favorite is the undefeated 2yo colt named FIELD OF PLAY (post 5), who is 2 for 2 so far.
As always in Australia, the field size is large -- 16 (would have been 24 if the starting field not been limited to just 16).
Because of the maximum field size, FIELD OF PLAY's post time odd will likely be around 5/2 as the favorite.
Right now, bookmakers are offering bettors $5 for a $1 bet -- meaning, you bet $1 you get $5 back if FIELD OF PLAY wins.
But I like DEVIL NIGHT (post 2) in a mild upset, perhaps at 8-1.
Here is the field:
BLUE DIAMOND STAKES
No. – Horse – Trainer – Jockey – Barrier – Weight
1 – FIELD OF PLAY – Trent Busuttin & Natalie Young – Blake Shinn – 5 – 57kg
2 – TYCOON STAR – Ben, Will & JD Hayes – Mark Zahra – 15 – 57kg
3 – EXTRACTOR – Michael Freedman – Ben Melham – 8 – 57kg
4 – TENTYRIS – Anthony & Sam Freedman – Damian Lane – 4 – 57kg
5 – DEVIL NIGHT – Michael, John & Wayne Hawkes – Michael Dee – 2 – 57kg
6 – AUTUMN MYSTERY – Rory Hunter – Patrick Moloney – 16 – 57kg
7 – OLATUNDE – Peter G Moody & Katherine Coleman – Billy Egan – 9 – 57kg
8 – THE PLAYWRIGHT – Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott – Regan Bayliss – 3 – 55kg
9 – PALM ANGEL – Jason Warren – Ethan Brown – 1 – 55kg
10 – ICARIAN DREAM – Ciaron Maher – Thomas Stockdale – 7 – 55kg
11 – MY GLADIOLA – John McArdle – Jamie Mott – 11 – 55kg
12 – MISS CELINE – Ben, Will & JD Hayes – Jye McNeil – 10 – 55kg
13 – WILTSHIRE SQUARE – Ciaron Maher – Harry Coffey – 13 – 55kg
14 – CHERISH ME – Ciaron Maher – Jamie Melham – 6 – 55kg
15 – TEMPTED – James Cummings – Craig Williams – 12 – 55kg
16 – EDEN ROSE – Jason Warren – Daniel Stackhouse – 14 – 55kg
