breednet.com.au

Yulong Head Entries for 2026 G1 Blue Diamond Stakes

Media Release - Wednesday August 20

The Melbourne Racing Club is pleased to confirm 1,456 nominations have been received for the 2026 edition of the $2 million Group 1 Sportsbet Blue Diamond Stakes (1200m), Victoria’s richest premier race for two-year-olds to be run on Saturday 21 February.  

“The Sportsbet Blue Diamond Stakes is a key destination on the juvenile racing calendar, attracting the country's most precocious young talent and emerging stars,” said Josh Rodder, MRC Racing & Media Executive. “Looking at our impressive list of entries at this stage, the 2026 edition is sure to be an exciting battle of emerging stars in a fast-paced, high-stakes showcase of speed, breeding, and brilliance.”  

Yulong won the Blue Diamond in 2025 wit the Hawkes Racing trained Extreme choice colt Devil Night - image Grant Courtney

Topping the list of nominated stallions are champion sires I Am Invincible, with an impressive 77 of his progeny nominated and Snitzel with 63 nominations. First Season sire Home Affairs lit up the sales ring earlier this year with his first crop of yearlings, and confidence in the young stallion is reflected through 62 nominees. 

Last year’s champion first-season sire Ole Kirk, from the family of the legendary Black Caviar, has also made an early mark, producing smart 2yos in his first season with O’Ole and Prestige Forever – we may have a repeat dose with his 30 nominations. . Extreme Choice, former Blue Diamond winner, and sire of last year’s winner Devil Night is represented by 26 entries. 

The 2026 nominations also feature strong representation from leading stables. Lindsay Park (Ben, JD and Will Hayes) has nominated 85 horses as it chases a record-extending ninth Blue Diamond title, having most recently won with Little Brose in 2023. The Hayes family legacy includes ten Blue Diamond victories, with David Hayes holding the training record with six wins, following triumphs by his father Colin (three) and brother Peter (one). 

On the back of the success of Devil Knight, Yulong Investments look set to make their presence felt with an incredible 145 entries, while rivals Ciaron Maher and Chris Waller are seeking to claim their first ever Blue Diamond winner with 132 and 118 nominations respectively.  

Advertisement

Renowned 2yo black type trainers Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott are poised to continue their dominance with 111 entries, as Team Hawkes, fresh off their 2025 win, nominate 28 in pursuit of back-to-back glory. Runner-up in the 2025 edition, Anthony and Sam Freedman have 72 hopefuls in the mix, displaying a serious show of intent. 

Since Tolerance won the inaugural running in 1971, the Blue Diamond has become a launchpad for future champions and influential sires, including Redoute’s Choice, Bel Esprit, and Extreme Choice. 

With such a deep and diverse pool of talent nominated for 2026, the race promises to deliver another thrilling chapter in the Blue Diamond’s rich history. 

Key Dates: 

  • 1st Acceptances close: 12pm (AEST) Tuesday 11th November 
  • First Late Entry: Any horse not previously nominated may be nominated in the Sportsbet Blue Diamond Stakes before 12 NOON on Tuesday, 11 November, 2025 accompanied by a fee of $5,500. 
  • Final declarations close: 12pm (AEST) Tuesday 17th February  

MRC Release

Advertisment
More Reading...
Sires With Winners - Monday August 18
Here is the full list of 23 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.
Feature Race Entries Running Today
The spring carnival is rapidly approaching and midweek metro meetings provide a fertile ground for new talent to emerge so let’s take a look at the runners at Warwick Farm and Sandown today that hold feature race entries.
First Foal for Gold Trip
Fourth in the Arc de Triomphe and a brilliant winner of the Group I VRC Turnbull Stakes at 2000m, there have been few classier winners of the Melbourne Cup than Gold Trip (Fr) and his very first foal has been born this spring.
Picture Perfect at Yulong Parade
In a comparatively short space of time Yulong have become a global powerhouse in the thoroughbred industry and nowhere more than in Australia, so when they open the gates to their headquarters in Victoria you can expect a big crowd.
Spring Trial Watch – Canterbury
With wet weather in Sydney playing havoc with the trial schedule last week there was a big turnout for Canterbury trials on Monday with a key Everest runner in cruise control and several under the radar 3YO’s showing spring potential.
Dominant Maiden Victory for Godolphin’s Burma Star
Having his second start for the Chris Waller stable, Godolphin’s 3yo Exceed And Excel colt Burma Star had race fitness on his side as he ploughed through the wet to win the Keeneland September Yearling Sale Handicap (1100m) at Warwick Farm on Wednesday.
A to Z Victorian Stud Tour – Breednet Goes on the Road
The Victorian breeding industry is on the cusp of something seriously good with arguably the best broodmare band in the country located at Yulong and an exciting new cohort of first season sires poised to ignite – is it any wonder I headed south for my annual stallion parade trip this year.
Rosemont Young Guns Attract a Crowd
It takes a bit of effort to get to Rosemont Stud near Geelong which is a solid hike from the main studs within easy reach of the Nagambie area in Victoria, but with superstar young guns Schwarz and Henry Longfellow (IRE) on the roster, Mitho and his team were always going to be a must visit!
Wootton Bassett Day at Arqana Deauville
The second evening of the Arqana August Sale was highlighted by demand for Wootton Bassett , who is currently at Coolmore Australia, with the same format as the day before featuring strong demand with a total of 85% of the 72 yearlings offered during the evening selling for an excellent average of €246,475, generating a turnover of €15,035,000.
One to Watch – Ballarat
Ole Kirk and Farnan are two of the hottest young sires in the Hunter Valley and both had a new winner on Tuesday with one of those winners being our ‘One to Watch’.