Blue Diamond Prelude (Fillies)

Winners and Past Results for the Blue Diamond Prelude

Two year old fillies have a great chance to prove their mettle at the Caulfield Racecourse in Melbourne in the Blue Diamond Prelude for Fillies held on the same day as the Group 1 C.F. Orr Stakes and Group 3 Rubiton Stakes during the autumn racing carnival.

The 1100 meter Group 3 race is run under set weight conditions with fillies in good form usually the firm favourites. The event hosted by the Melbourne Racing Club carries prize money worth $150,000 for the winners. The Blue Diamond Prelude for colts and geldings is held after the race for fillies.

For punters, horses in good form in these races are a good bet for the Group 1 Blue Diamond Stakes held two weeks later, which is Victoria 's richest race for two year old horses. The Group 3 Maribyrong Plate run over the same distance is an excellent form guide for the Blue Diamond Prelude for fillies.

The winner of the 2004 Blue Diamond Prelude (Fillies), Alinghi, went on to beat the best of 2 year old colts and mares in the Blue Diamond Stakes in the same year.

Among the other outstanding fillies to win the trophy include Freedom Fields in 1992, Miamore in 1995, Picadilly Circus in 1998, Halibery in 2003, Doubting in 2005, Camarilla in 2007, Rostova in 2009, and Psychologist, who ran at lightning speed in 2010.

The 1000 meter Blue Diamond Prelude serves as a form guide in this event. One Last Dance, the 2011 winner, scored a Preview/Prelude double. The set weight condition is a true test for the two year olds who contest with the best males in the Blue Diamond Stakes. Many fillies that come through the Blue Diamond Prelude increase in stud value.

Formal Invitation won the first Blue Diamond Prelude for fillies in 1982. The race was a listed race until 1986, when it achieved Group 3 status.

Apart from Alinghi in 2004, the other fillies to win the Blue Diamond Prelude/ Blue Diamond Stakes double are Love a Show in 1983, Bounding Away in 1986, Courtza in 1989, Lady Jakeo in 1993, and Psychologist in 2010. In 2006, Miss Finland was placed second in the Blue Diamond and then went on to win the Golden Slipper Stakes. The 1989 winner, Courtza, went on to win the Golden Slipper Stakes in the same year, a feat achieved previously by Bounding Away in 1986.

2013 Blue Diamond Prelude (Fillies)

Guelph was a warm favourite in the Fillies version of the Blue Diamond Prelude, and was prominent from the start, settling not far behind the early leader, Montsegur. As the field made their way around the turn, Montsegur continued to lead the way but Guelph, ridden by Kerrin McEvoy, soon got into stride as she straightened for the run home. Once she hit top gear, Guelph had too much class for the rest of the field, zipping past Montsegur and going to the post to win by more than a length. Montsegur never gave it away and held on to second place ahead of Godiva Rock.

2013 Blue Diamond Prelude (Fillies) result

1. Guelph
2. Montsegur
3. Godiva Rock

Then came:

4. Quest For Peace
5. Drifting Cube
6. Blue Palace
7. La Ballerine
8. More Than Ameira