Big numbers in Group 1 Blue Diamond contention
Highly touted Muntaseera is among 273 second acceptances for the Blue Diamond Stakes.
The major stables are well-represented among the 273 two-year-olds who remain in contention for the Group One Blue Diamond Stakes after the second acceptance stage.
The Lindsay Park stable boast 39 juveniles among the second acceptors, which were released on Wednesday, while Snowden Racing has 38, one more than the stable of co-trainers Ciaron Maher and David Eustace.
Godolphin has 19 juveniles still in contention for this year’s renewal of the $1.5 million race at Caulfield on February 22, with 18 of those in the care of the global racing operation’s Australian head trainer James Cummings .
Godolphin also has Merson Cooper Stakes-winning colt Hanseatic entered who, like Lyre, is trained by Anthony Freedman.
Golden Gift winner Dame Giselle, trained by the Snowdens, is among the early favourites in an early Blue Diamond market along with the Maher and Eustace-trained filly Muntaseera.
This year’s Blue Diamond series kicks off with the Group Three Preview for two-year-old fillies and Listed Preview for colts and geldings over 1000m on January 25 at Caulfield.
The Group Two fillies Prelude and Group Two colts and geldings Prelude over 1100m are on February 8, two weeks before the Group One Blue Diamond (1200m).
The next round of declarations for the Blue Diamond close on January 28.