Dalradian Heads 2016 Blue Diamond Colts & Geldings Preview Field

Darren Weir’s promising colt Dalradian returns to racing this Australia Day in Melbourne at Caulfield Racecourse kicking off his autumn campaign in the 2016 Ladbrokes Blue Diamond Colts & Geldings Preview.

Dalradian (inside) is one of the top hopes in the 2016 Blue Diamond Preview (C&G) at Caulfield Racecourse on Australia Day. Photo: Ultimate Racing Photos.

Due to run as Caulfield Race 3 at 2:21pm (AEDT) on Tuesday, January 26, this season’s $150,000 Listed Ladbrokes Blue Diamond Preview (Colts & Geldings) runs over 1000m and features a field of 14 promising two-year-olds.

To wear the number one saddlecloth and jumping from a gun gate four with Brad Rawiller booked for the ride is two time winning Reward For Effort colt Dalradian.

Prepared by last spring’s Melbourne Cup winning trainer Weir, the horse won the Inglis 2YO Banner on Cox Plate Day last October before failing to beat home any runner crossing a distant seventh to Power Trip in the Group 3 Maribyrnong Plate (1000m) at Flemington on Emirates Stakes Day.

The horse that won the Group 3 on November 7, John McArdle’s Hard Spun gelding Power Trip, is also first-up in the Blue Diamond Colts & Geldings Preview next week.

Dalradian is currently rated a $26 chance in the futures odds at Ladbrokes.com.au for the $1.5 million Group 1 Blue Diamond Stakes (1200m) at Caulfield on February 27, while Power Trip pays a shorter $17 for the classic.

The only other horse in the Australia Day showdown with a previous win on the record is the Lloyd Kennewell-trained Adelaide raider Bullion Wolf.

Drawn in gate seven with Perth’s Chris Parnham booked for the ride, the undefeated son of Stratum races in interstate company for the first time having won his opening two starts last time in over 1000m at Morphettville Parks.

He also won a trial over the same track and distance by a commanding seven lengths this week and looks on track for his Melbourne and black-type debut on Tuesday.

Bullion Wolf is another $26 Blue Diamond Stakes hope for next month, a price sure to firm if he can make it three-from-three with a Preview win.

Drawn one outside of the South Australian galloper in barrier eight with big race specialist Glen Boss in the saddle is the Mick Sell-trained Moshway.

The Kyneton-trained gelding has had three runs to date, including a third in the Listed Maribyrnong Trial (1000m) last October, and was third again beaten only a neck over 1100m at Flemington on January 16.

John O’Shea and the Godolphin stable are represented by a nicely bred son of Lonhro Cohesion, the colt running for the first time since his fourth to subsequent Gold Coast Magic Millions 2YO Classic winner Capitalist in the Listed Breeders Plate (1000m) at Randwick in early October.

He trialled at Sandown over 800m on January 14 and won by over three lengths in the perfect lead-up to his second career start next week from barrier 11 with Ben Melham riding.

Other notable hopes include the rails-drawn Weatherly for Scone’s Paul Messara, Kennewell’s other runner Sawaiki coming off a five length Adelaide trial win over 1000m on January 18 and another last start trial winner Kafoo for David Hayes & Tom Dabernig.

Check out the full Blue Diamond Colts & Geldings Preview 2016 field, barriers and jockeys below then head to Ladbrokes.com.au and open a new account with the bookmaker rewarding first time depositing players with up to $500 in bonuses with use of the code BETBONUS!

2016 Blue Diamond Colts & Geldings Preview Field & Barrier Draw

Caulfield Race 3 (2:21pm) – 26/01/2016