The field is confirmed, the barriers are set, and the countdown towards one of the Autumn Carnival’s standout feature races is well and truly on – the Neds Blue Diamond Stakes!
I don’t want to come off as too bullish, but I have found the winner in each of the last six editions of the Neds Blue Diamond. Yep, that includes Tagaloa at 31s, and Artorius at double figures last year!
As Neds’ own form analyst, I am obviously very keen to keep alive my run of form, and you can find my 2022 Neds Blue Diamond Stakes Tips below.
Neds Blue Diamond Stakes – Winner – No. 2 Lofty Strike
As early Neds Blue Diamond betting agrees, I narrowed it down to Lofty Strike and Jacquinot, but I think that this undefeated blue blood might just prove a little too good.
By Snitzel and out of the 2013 Golden Slipper winner Overreach, Lofty Strike debuted with an eye-catching effort to win down the straight at HQ, and he takes his place in this field following an outstanding performance in the Group 3 Prelude for Colts & Geldings a fortnight ago.
He was well back and wide when they turned for home in that contest, and forced to do a lot more work than most of his rivals, but he still let down with a very impressive turn of foot to comfortably salute.
He harbours plenty of upside and with even luck from the draw, I really cannot find a reason why he won’t be in the finish.
Neds Blue Diamond Stakes – 2nd – No. 1 Jacquinot
Jacquinot was equally impressive in the Blue Diamond Prelude for Colts & Geldings, and he is a clear second pick for me in the Neds Blue Diamond Stakes.
The Rubick colt put paid to them in a 1200m handicap here at Caulfield on debut, and he returned from a freshen-up to finish fifth in the Prelude.
It is fair to say that he was completely luckless in the Prelude when he ran into Philosopher (who was going backwards at a steady rate), and he certainly would have finished closer if not for that, but he did manage to cut the corner and enjoy a rails run, doing far less than Lofty Strike out wide.
Regardless, I wouldn’t be surprised to see him in the Blue Diamond Stakes winner’s stall either.
Neds Blue Diamond Stakes – 3rd – No. 11 Revolutionary Miss
She is yet to return a poor effort, and Revolutionary Miss is quite clearly the pick of the fillies in the 2022 Blue Diamond Stakes field, in my opinion.
The Russian Revolution filly showed some ability at the trials prior to debuting, and she only just missed behind Fireburn at Randwick-Kensington on debut.
She followed up that performance finishing second, albeit well-beaten by Queen Of The Ball in the Group 3 Widden Stakes in Sydney, and broke her maiden in the Group 2 Fillies Prelude here a fortnight ago.
Comparing the two Preludes side-by-side, it does look like the colts and geldings have the edge this year, while I’m also a little concerned that Widden Stakes winner Queen Of The Ball has since been well-beaten in the Silver Slipper.
I think that she’s good enough run a place, but I think that Lofty Strike and Jacquinot are just a little better than her this early in their respective careers.
Neds Blue Diamond Stakes – 4th – No. 7 Rampant Lion
I’m looking a little further down market order for my final selection, and I think that Rampant Lion can run a nice race and generous Neds Blue Diamond Stakes odds.
Rampant Lion kept his best work for late when third in the Maribyrnong Trial on debut in October, and returned another eye-catching performance to finish second in the Blue Diamond Preview fresh in January.
He’s a well-bred sprinter, and reminds be a little of Tagaloa, whose form was quite similar heading into the Group 1 feature.
Suggested Bets
- 4 Units straight out #2 Lofty Strike
- Boxed Trifecta of the selections below