This Saturday’s elite line-up for Blue Diamond Stakes Day 2011 at Caulfield features seven Group races including the $200,000 Group 2 St George Stakes (1800m) which has attracted 17 nominations.
A weight-for-age showdown, the 2011 St George Stakes provides the ideal lead-up gallop for stayers heading towards the longer distanced autumn features such as the $1 million Group 1 Australian Cup (2000m) at Flemington on March 12.
Top fancies in the early 2011 Australian Cup odds at Luxbet that have been nominated in the St George Stakes include Heart Of Dreams ($6.50), Shocking ($7), Moudre ($9), Linton ($11) and Precedence ($12).
The Mick Price-trained five-year-old Heart Of Dreams is coming off an eye-catching second behind Typhoon Tracy, beaten by the narrowest of margins in the CF Orr Stakes (1400m) at Caulfield on February 12.
Heart Of Dreams ran second to La Rocket in the St George Stakes last year.
The Lloyd Williams-owned four-year-old grey Linton, previous Melbourne Cup winner Shocking, Bart Cummings’ Zabeel five-year-old Precedence and genuine Warrnambool-trained stayer Moudre all also ran in the CF Orr Stakes finishing 9th, 11th, 14th and 15th respectively and all will thrive over the extra distance in the St George Stakes.
The other CF Orr Stakes runners that could back up in this year’s St George Stakes include Mick Price’s Spacecraft (6th), the John Thompson-trained Trusting (7th), Bart Cumming’s Shamardal mare Faint Perfume (13th) and David Hayes’ European import Rebel Solider (16th).
Other notable entries for the 2011 St George stakes include Alcopop, Kiwi galloper Ginga Dude and the Peter Moody-trained Hanks.
The final field and barrier draw for the 2011 Carlton Draught St George Stakes will be out on Wednesday February 23 and published here at Races.com.au.
The marquee event on the Caulfield card this Saturday is of course the $1 million Group 1 Blue Diamond Stakes (1200m) for two-year-olds, the field due to be released tomorrow so stay tuned to Races.com.au.
Luxbet will have the best St George Stakes odds and also have generous prices open now for the Blue Diamond Stakes entries so visit them now!
2011 St George Stakes Nominations
| # | Horse | Trainer | H. Rating |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | ALCOPOP | Jake Stephens | 106 |
| 2 | FAINT PERFUME | Bart Cummings | 107 |
| 3 | GINGA DUDE (NZ) | Graeme Boyd | 109 |
| 4 | HANKS | Peter G Moody | 93 |
| 5 | HEART OF DREAMS | Mick Price | 113 |
| 6 | LARISTAN (FR) | David Hayes | 89 |
| 7 | LINTON | Robert Hickmott | 105 |
| 8 | LORD PYRUS (NZ) | Judy Mawer | 100 |
| 9 | MOUDRE | Ciaron Maher | 106 |
| 10 | MOURAYAN (IRE) | Robert Hickmott | 104 |
| 11 | PRECEDENCE (NZ) | Bart Cummings | 108 |
| 12 | REBEL SOLDIER (IRE) | David Hayes | 102 |
| 13 | SHOCKING | Mark Kavanagh | 118 |
| 14 | SPACECRAFT | Mick Price | 104 |
| 15 | SPEED GIFTED (GB) | Lee Freedman | 107 |
| 16 | TRUSTING | John P Thompson | 107 |
| 17 | WIND SHEAR | Dale Sutton | 94 |
