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Five Famous Blue Diamond Stakes Winners - How do we narrow it down?

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Last updated: 23 Feb 2024
Bets.com.au Staff 23 Feb 2024
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  • Blue Diamond Stakes is Victoria's premier two-year-old race, first held in 1971.
  • The top five winners include Reaan (2008) through to Redoute's Choice (1999), all having made remarkable wins.
  • Jockey Dwayne Dunn and trainer David Hayes hold impressive records with consecutive and maximum wins respectively.
update
Miracles Of Life winning the 2013 Blue Diamond Stakes. (Getty)

First run in 1971, the Group 1 Blue Diamond Stakes is Victoria's premier two-year-old race.

Run over 1200 metres at Caulfield, it's an event that's had it's fair share of notable winners in it's somewhat short history and we list our top five below, which includes a few victors that may surprise.

5. Reaan (2008)

Breeding: Hussonet x Ribe

Trainer: David Hayes

Jockey: Dwayne Dunn

  • Trainer David Hayes made it five Blue Diamond Stakes victories and completed a winning hat-trick with Reaan. His father Colin Hayes trained three Blue Diamond Stakes winners in what's been a famous race for the family.
  • Jockey Dwayne Dunn completed four Blue Diamond Stakes in succession following victories on Undoubtedly (2005), Nadeem (2006) and Sleek Chassis (2007).
  • Amazingly, Reaan won the 2009 Blue Diamond Stakes at a starting price of 12/1 after winning the preview leading into it by five lengths.

reaan
Jockey Dwayne Dunn and trainer David Hayes celebrate their win in the 2009 Blue Diamond Stakes with Reaan (Getty)

4. Bel Esprit (2002)

Breeding: Royal Academy x Bespoken

Trainer: John Symons

Jockey: Wayne Treloar

  • Bel Esprit was sent around as a popular even money elect and made had a perfect record of five wins from five starts when saluting in the Blue Diamond Stakes.
  • He earned over $2 million in prize money from eight career wins which included two at Group 1 level with AFL legend figure Kevin Sheedy enjoying the spoils as a part-owner.
  • In the breeding barn, Bel Esprit is most famously known as the sire of the champion sprinter Black Caviar.

bel esprit
Bel Esprit is shown off after winning the AAMI Blue Diamond Stakes in 2002 (Getty)

3. Sepoy (2011)

Breeding: Elusive Quality x Watchful

Trainer: Peter Snowden

Jockey: Kerrin McEvoy

  • Sent around as a $1.40 favourite following two dominant performances in the Preview and Prelude, Sepoy didn't let his supporters with a four and a quarter length victory in the 2011 Blue Diamond Stakes.
  • He became the fourth (and last) two-year-old to complete the Blue Diamond/Golden Slipper double and added two more group one victories later in the year via the Manikato and Coolmore Stud Stakes.
  • Sepoy was the shortest priced winner and the first favourite since Alinghi in 2004 to take out the Blue Diamond Stakes.

2. Miracles Of Life (2013)

Breeding: Not A Single Doubt x Dazzling Gazelle

Trainer: Dan Clarken

Jockey: Lauren Stojakovic

  • One of the more popular Blue Diamond wins was the tiny filly who was brought across from Adelaide by trainer Dan Clarken following two huge wins at Morphettville.
  • Lauren Stojakovic was still an apprentice jockey rider when trusted to stick with Miracles Of Life in Melbourne and rewarded connections with a terrific ride in the 2013 Blue Diamond Stakes.
  • Moving under the care of Peter Snowden later in her career, Miracles Of Life bowed out of racing with a win in the 2015 Group One Robert Sangster.

1. Redoute's Choice (1999)

Breeding: Danehill x Shantha's Choice

Trainer: Rick Hore-Lacy

Jockey: Danny Nikolic

  • Racing in a competitive era, Redoute's Choice won round one of his dual with Testa Rossa when winning the 1999 Blue Diamond Stakes and did it again at Group One level via the Caulfield Guineas later in the year.
  • Going around as an 8/1 chance in the Blue Diamond Stakes in only his second ever race start, Redoute's Choice pulled away late for an easy two length victory.
  • Was a hugely influential stallion post-racing, having sired thirty seven individual group one winners and also was a  "sire of sires" with Snitzel, Not A Single Doubt and recently, The Autumn Sun all being top commercial stallions.

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