There is something for everyone on Saturday with the proven WFA stars doing battle in the CF Orr Stakes and Apollo Stakes, an array of top-class 3yo fillies in the Triscay Stakes and Kevin Hayes Stakes, while the babies face off in the divisions of the Blue Diamond Prelude.
The Group II Blue Diamond Prelude for fillies looks particularly open.
We have settled on the Anthony and Sam Freedman-trained No Diggity. The unbeaten daughter from the final crop of Sebring has had everything go her way in two wins from inside barriers, but she will have no such luxury on Saturday after drawing barrier 14.
It may present the opportunity for Craig Newitt to ride her quietly, something she did not experience at Geelong and Caulfield.
Bred by Hutchins Thoroughbreds, No Diggity was a $150,000 purchase from the Element Hill draft by Dean Hawthorne Bloodstock (BAFNZ), on behalf of Jonathan Munz's Pinecliff Racing, at the 2021 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale.
She is the fourth winner from as many to race out of the 4-time winner Rare Ruby. A daughter of the excellent broodmare sire Elusive Quality (USA), Rare Ruby is a half-sister to the ill-fated Meurice.
A son of Strategic, Meurice carried the same colours as No Diggity. Initially trained by (Rocket) Rodney Douglas, Meurice won the Listed MRC Debutant Stakes, before placing in the Maribyrnong Stakes and Merson Cooper Stakes.
He then transferred to Gai Waterhouse, adding the Group 1 ATC Champagne Stakes and Group II Todman Stakes and placed in the Golden Slipper and ATC Sires' Produce Stakes.
Honoured as the Champion 2yo, the son of Strategic was purchased by Darley for a reported $12million.
Tragically, Meurice broke his shoulder in trackwork and was put down.
In December, Rare Ruby's three-year-old star Witness filly Putontheredlight, an $80,000 Magic Millions purchase for Beamish Bloodstock, finished second in the Listed Mode Plate at Doomben.
The year Element Hill sold Putontheredlight, it consigned Rare Ruby to the National Broodmare Sale, where Bert Vierra acquired her for $50,000.
Rare Ruby has no yearling this season, but she has a colt foal by Trapeze Artist and was covered by the son of Snitzel again last spring.
The dam of Rare Ruby, Espadon (Danehill), did not have the best strike rate with three winners from nine foals.
Her daughter Crillon (Zabeel) finished midfield in a 16 runner maiden at Warrnambool at her only start. At stud, she left the stakes-winners Exocet (Smart Missile) and Ready For Victory, an enormously talented son of More Than Ready (USA), who arguably should have won a Golden Slipper.
Espadon is a half-sister to the Group 1 winners and Group 1 producing stallions Rubiton and Euclase.
Rubiton was a champion on the track and at stud.
Bred by Oamaru Stud owner Ray Orloff, Rubiton headed to the Adelaide yearling sale with a $50,000.
In New York on business, Orloff was on the phone when Rubiton went through the ring. Despite bidding stalling at $45,000 he decided to let the son of Century go, with David Bayless set to reap the rewards.
Rubiton hit the board in all but one of his 16 starts, with his 10 victories highlighted by the WS Cox Plate, one of four achieved at the highest level.
Orloff purchased Rubiton's dam Ruby privately from Doug Reid, who had paid around $10,000 for her as a yearling in Sydney.
Ruby was more than useful. Second on debut in the Listed Maribyrnong Trial Stakes, the daughter of Seventh Hussar won at Moonee Valley and Caulfield, where she defeated Aare before that daughter of Bold Flip (USA) won the 1980 Group 1 Blue Diamond Stakes.
