2022 Blue Diamond Prelude (C&G) Breeding Preview

A field of just nine colts and geldings will contest Saturday’s final traditional Group 1 Blue Diamond lead up, headlined by the Mick Price and Michael Kent Jnr-trained Jacquinot.

Past Winners:

2021: General Beau (Colt) (Brazen Beau x Phosphorescence (Lonhro)
Breeder/Owner: David and Jennie Moodie

2020: Hanseatic (Colt) (Street Boss x Itameri (Exceed And Excel)
Breeder/Owner: Godolphin
Stands At: Rosemont Stud – $17,600

2019: I Am Immortal (Colt) (I Am Invincible x Meliora (Ad Valorem)
Breeder: Yarraman Park
Owner: Dream Thoroughbreds
Stands At: Swettenham Stud – $13,750

Group 3 Blue Diamond Prelude, $300,000, 1100 metres

No1 – Semillion (Colt) (Shalaa x Sistonic)
Trainer: Team Hawkes

Bred by astute breeder Robert Crabtree, Semillion was a $300,000 2021 Inglis Premier Yearling Sale purchase by International Thoroughbred Solutions (FBAA) from the draft of Phillip Campbell’s Blue Gum Farm.

He is out of the Group 3 fourth placed Bel Esprit mare Sistonic, who is a sister to the Listed-winning, Group 2 Rubiton Stakes-placed Iconic.

Sistonic’s grandam is Blue Hen mare Scandinavia, herself the dam of four-stakes winners and two stakes placegetters, including Group 1 Galaxy Stakes hero turned Widden Stud stallion Magnus.

Scandinavia is also the grandam of Black Caviar, All Too Hard and the dam of Ole Kirk and Gimmie Par. She is Hanseatic’s third dam.

Semillion’s young Arrowfield Stud-based sire Shalaa, a son of Invincible Spirit, is currently second on the second-season standing by winners on 26, which puts him eight wins behind Newgate Farm’s Capitalist from 50 less runners.

The Shalaa/Bel Esprit cross has resulted in four runners for two winners thus far, with Semillion the most notable.

No2 – Daumier (Colt) (Epaulette x Illustrate)
Trainer: Anthony & Sam Freedman

A Godolphin-homebred Daumier is the second foal out of the unraced Street Cry mare Illustrate, herself a daughter of the Group 2 Surround Stakes-winning, Group 1 Flight Stakes third placegetter Parables.

Illustrates’ grandam is the stakes-winning Fairytales. The Group 2 Blamey Stakes-winning, Group 1 Australian Cup-placed Thackeray features in this family along with Te Akau Racing’s Group 1 Manawatu Sires’ Produce and Karaka 2YO Million winner On The Bubbles.

The Epaulette/Street Cry cross has resulted in 10 runners for three winners at a 20 per cent stakes winners to runner strike rate. Daumier is the most successful horse bred on this cross. 

No3 – Philosopher (Colt) (Zoustar x Lone)
Trainer: Anthony & Sam Freedman

An $800,000 2021 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale purchase by James Harron Bloodstock from the draft of his breeders Widden Stud, Philosopher is the first foal out of the unraced Sepoy mare Lone, herself a daughter of the Listed-placed Faster Pussycat.

Lone is a half-sister to the Listed-winning, Group 1 Tatts Tiara-placed Gai’s Choice and Listed winners Atmospherical and Peron.

Lone’s dual Listed-winning grandam Presina is also the grandam of Group 1 Oakleigh Plate winner Eagle Falls and Group 3 winners Fabrizio and Mahara.

Philosopher is one of two horses and the only winner bred on a Zoustar/Sepoy cross.

No4 – Counttheheadlights (Colt) (I Am Invincible x Tahni Dancer)
Trainer: Ciaron Maher & David Eustace

An $800,000 2021 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale purchase by Ciaron Maher Bloodstock from the draft of Rosemont Stud, Counttheheadlights is out of the Group 2 and Group 3-placed Sebring mare Tahni Dancer, who herself is a half-sister to WA Group 3 winner Maschino and the Listed-winning Kentucky Breeze.

The trio’s dam is the Group 3 McNeil Stakes-winning, Group 2 Magic Night Stakes-placed Tahni Girl.

Tahni Dancer’s grandam is three-time New Zealand Group 1 winner Ballroom Babe, who is responsible for the Group 2 Furious Stake-winning, Group 1 Arrowfield Stud Stakes-placed Just Dancing.

Last Saturday’s Inglis Millennium heroine Xtravagant Star and her Listed-winning brother He’s Xceptional feature in this family.

Counttheheadlights is one of two winners from as many runners bred on a I Am Invincible/Sebring cross and is the most notable.

No5 – Jacquinot (Colt) (Rubick x Ponterro)
Trainer: Mick Price & Michael Kent Jnr

Passed in for $90,000 at the 2021 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale after failing to meet a reserve of $120,000 set by his vendors Coolmore Stud, Jacquinot is out of the unraced Pierro mare Ponterro, who is a half-sister to Group 1 Randwick Gunieas winner Inference and a sister to Group 2 Avondale Guineas and Group 1 Auckland Guineas winner Dragon Leap.

Ponterro’s Listed-winning grandam Liberty Rose is responsible for the dual Group 2-placed Liberty’s Choice. Stakes-winning Godolphin gallopers Ranier and Kordia feature in this pedigree.

Away Game and her stakes-winning sister Modern Wonder feature in Ponterro’s extended family.

Four named horses have been bred on a Rubick/Pierro cross, however, Jacquinot is the first to make it to the races thus far.

No6 – Lofty Strike (Colt) (Snitzel x Overreach)
Trainer: Julius Sandhu  

A $280,000 2021 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale purchase by Lofty Thoroughbred Group from the draft of his breeders Corumbene Stud, Lofty Strike is out of G1 Golden Slipper Stakes-winning Exceed And Excel mare Overreach, herself a sister to Group 2 Expressway Stakes winner Standout.

Overreach’s Listed-winning grandam Miss Prospect is responsible for Group 1 Blue Diamond Stakes winner Reward For Effort the multiple Listed-winning Consular.

Group 3 winners Minhaaj and Charmed Harmony feature in this family.

The Snitzel/Exceed And Excel cross has produced three winners from five runners thus far, with Exceeds, a winner of $104,750, the most successful to date.

No7 – Lascars (Colt) (Sepoy x Alizes)
Trainer: James Cummings

A Godolphin-homebred Lascars is out of Rory’s Jester mare Alizes, making him a half-brother to the dam of three-time Group 1 winner Alizee, Group 1 Golden Rose winner Astern, Group 2 Silver Slipper runner-up Tassort and the stakes-placed Mogador.

Alize’s dam is the Group 1 Galaxy Handicap winner La Baraka. Her grandam is five-time Group 1 winner Triscasy, who top flight victories came in the AJC Oaks, Australian Guineas, Flight Stakes, Champagne Stakes and the Queensland Oaks.

Lascars is the only winner from three runners bred on a Sepoy/Rory’s Jester cross.

No8 – River Ribble (Colt) (Ribchester x Donna Dingles)
Trainer: Anthony & Sam Freedman

A $140,000 2021 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale purchase by Anthony Freedman Racing, Blue Sky Bloodstock (FBAA), Will Johnson Bloodstock and Australian Bloodstock from the draft of Edinglassie Thoroughbreds, River Ribble is out of the unraced Denman mare Donna Dingles, herself a half-sister to Group 3 winner Mamwaazel.

Donna Dingles’ grandam Require is responsible for Group 2 Champagne Stakes winner Always Devine. Three-time Group 2 winner Sun Sally, who was successful in the Flight Stakes and Wakeful Stakes.

River Ribble is the first named horse bred on a Riberchester/Denman cross. No horses have been bred on an Iffraaj/Denman cross.

No9 – Crowning Moment (Gelding) (Pariah x Kenzie)
Trainer: Clayton Douglas

A $45,000 2021 Inglis Classic Yearling Sale purchase by Bradlee Park, Crowning Moment is out of the unplaced Sebring mare Kenzie, herself a daughter of the Listed Gimcrack Stakes fourth placegetter Triple Crown.

The Group 3-placed Sirileo Miss and Listed winners Spectrolite and Hit It Star feature in this otherwise lacklustre pedigree.

Crowning Moment’s first-season Arrowfield Stud-based stallion Pariah is yet to record a winner from five runners to date.

 

If you’d like to know how these colts and geldings look in the yard on Saturday, head to The Mailbag for accountable, winning betting advice.