While the spring carnival still has some time to run and with summer features still to come in Queensland, attention already creeps in for the Group 1 Blue Diamond Stakes – Victoria’s premier event for two-year-olds – with 864 juveniles nominated among the first acceptances for the end of summer event.

Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott top the list of nominations with 108 juveniles on their list with among them Group 3 Breeders’ Plate (1200m) debut winner King Kirk who notched a Racing and Sports rating of 103+ in taking out that race at Randwick on October 5.

Ciaron Maher’s team have nominated 62 horses aiming for the $2 million feature while Michael Freedman has 61 on his target list.

Recent Group 3 Maribyrnong Plate (1000m) winner Tycoon Star heads 39 nominations for training trio Ben, Will and JD Hayes.

The colt by star sire Written Tycoon rated 102 in that victory at $18 on Melbourne Cup Day.

James Cummings has 47 horses with among the nominations recent Kirkham Plate (1000m) winner Comedy at Randwick.

The Blue Diamond Series of races begins on January 25 with colts and geldings, and fillies divisions of Blue Diamond Previews over 1000-metres at Caulfield.

Long range markets are yet to be released for the 1200-metre Blue Diamond on February 22.

The 2024 edition was taken out by the Clinton McDonald-trained filly Hayasugi.