Second declarations have been confirmed for Victoria’s premier two-year-old race, the $2 million Group 1 Sportsbet Blue Diamond Stakes (1200m).
The updated list features 221 juveniles, with several of the nation’s leading stables represented as preparations begin to build toward one of Melbourne’s most coveted autumn prizes.
Ciaron Maher trains three of the four highest prizemoney earners among the remaining Blue Diamond contenders: Melbourne Cup Carnival winners Calamari Ring ($245,649) and Tornado Valley ($229,145), alongside Golden Gift runner-up Spicy Miss ($190,000).
Gimcrack Stakes winner Shiki (Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott) also sits among the top four, taking her prizemoney tally to $235,100 following her second win from three starts last Saturday at the Gold Coast.
There are 18 individual race winners among the Blue Diamond second acceptors. They are:
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Chris Waller led nominations when entries closed in November but has been overtaken at the second declaration stage by Anthony and Sam Freedman (29) and the Ben, Will and JD Hayes training partnership (19), ahead of Waller (17) and Maher (16).
The Freedmans have 27 unraced horses among their entries, including Queen’s English, a Snitzel filly out of Group 1 winner English, as they chase a third Blue Diamond Stakes victory since 2021.
Snitzel and I Am Invincible are the best-represented stallions within the Blue Diamond second declarations with 15 horses, ahead of first season sire Stay Inside (12).
The 2026 Sportsbet Blue Diamond Stakes will be held at Caulfield on Saturday, February 21.
