The Blue Diamond Stakes remains a potential target for the highly touted Sydney colt Wodeton, who was this week included as a third-round acceptor for Victoria’s premier two-year-old race.
The Melbourne Racing Club announced on Wednesday the 81 horses still in contention for the $2 million Group 1 event at Caulfield on February 22, with the Chris Waller-trained son of Wootton Bassett among them.
Wodeton generated significant buzz when he won his debut at Rosehill on January 18 by nearly four lengths, a performance that propelled him to the top of Golden Slipper betting.
Waller indicated earlier this week that Wodeton is likely to head to the Silver Slipper for his next start, which is held in Sydney on Blue Diamond Day. However, keeping him in the Blue Diamond acceptances leaves the door open for the $1.6 million Magic Millions yearling to potentially contest the race.
Wodeton is one of five horses Waller has entered in his quest for a first Blue Diamond runner. The Hall of Fame trainer’s only previous entrant in the race was Cigar Flick, who was scratched from the 2023 edition.
United States and Fermoy, both Coolmore-owned yearlings purchased for seven-figure sums, are also among Waller’s entries for this year’s Diamond. Portofino and Tropic round out his contingent.
Unraced Zoustar colt Tropic and Fermoy, another Zoustar progeny with one start resulting in a third-place finish in November, are set to run in Saturday’s $250,000 Group 3 Canonbury Stakes at Rosehill.
Other notable third-round acceptors include brilliant fillies such as Preview winner My Gladiola, Magic Millions heroine O’ Ole, Cherish Me, and Aleppo Pine. The latter is one of nine entries for Sheikh Mohammed, who is aiming for a fifth Blue Diamond victory.
Aleppo Pine and six other Godolphin juveniles are trained by James Cummings, who is yet to win a Blue Diamond. Cummings also has Tempted and Daphnes, both scheduled to run this Saturday, among his entries.
Ciaron Maher, another trainer yet to claim a Blue Diamond, has the most potential starters behind Cummings. Maher’s entries include Preview placegetter Wiltshire Square, one-time Magic Millions favourite Icarian Dream, and Cherish Me.
Icarian Dream, an impressive debut winner of the Geelong Diamond, is set to run next in the $300,000 Group 2 Blue Diamond Fillies Prelude at Caulfield on Saturday week, alongside the Group 3 colts and geldings division on the same day.
