The Amazingly good Group 1 Horse Racing at Caufield
The weekend of February 22nd, 2025 is shaping up to be a massive one for horse racing at Caufield, enthusiasts in Australia, with a quartet of Group 1 races scheduled at Caulfield Racecourse. While the track has undergone renovations in recent years, necessitating the Blue Diamond Stakes, Futurity Stakes, and Oakleigh Plate to be run at Flemington in 1996 and at Sandown in 2023, Caulfield is back and ready to host these prestigious races. In addition to the three main races, the Caulfield Autumn Classic and Angus Armanasco Stakes will also be run on the same day, adding to the excitement of this premier race day. This article provides a comprehensive preview of each Group 1 race, delving into their rich history, analyzing the contenders, and exploring intriguing statistics and expert opinions. Before we dive into the analysis, it’s important to understand the “nomination” and “acceptance” stages of these races. Initially, a large number of horses are nominated for each race. As the race day approaches, trainers decide whether to accept with their nominated horses, leading to a final field of contenders. This process adds another layer of anticipation and strategy to the lead-up to these major races.
Blue Diamond Stakes
The Blue Diamond Stakes is a prestigious race for two-year-old horses, offering a glimpse into the future stars of Australian racing. Held over 1200 meters at Caulfield Racecourse, it carries a total prize purse of A$2,000,000, making it Victoria’s richest race for juveniles.
History and Significance
First run in 1971, the Blue Diamond Stakes has a storied history, with past winners including champions like Manikato (1978), Redoute’s Choice (1999), and Alinghi (2004). The race is a significant stepping stone for young horses, often leading to further success in races like the Golden Slipper. Notably, Sepoy achieved the rare feat of winning both the Blue Diamond and Golden Slipper in 2011. It’s worth noting that the Blue Diamond Stakes was run at Flemington in 1996 and at Sandown in 2023 due to renovations at Caulfield.
A recent trend in the Blue Diamond Stakes has been the strong performance of fillies. In fact, fillies have won nine of the last 26 runnings of the race. This suggests that the 2025 Blue Diamond could see a filly take the crown.
Contenders and Odds
The 2025 Blue Diamond Stakes features a competitive field of 16 promising two-year-olds. The current favorite is Field Of Play, trained by Trent Busuttin & Natalie Young, with odds of $5.50. Field Of Play comes into the race undefeated, having won the Group 3 Blue Diamond Prelude (C&G) in impressive fashion. This recent form, combined with a favorable barrier draw (barrier 5), makes him a strong contender.
| Horse | Trainer | Jockey | Barrier | Odds |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Field Of Play | Trent Busuttin & Natalie Young | Blake Shinn | 5 | 5.50 |
| My Gladiola | John McArdle | Jamie Mott | 11 | 7.00 |
| Palm Angel | Jason Warren | Ethan Brown | 1 | 7.00 |
| Cherish Me | Ciaron Maher | Ms Jamie Melham | 6 | 7.00 |
| Tempted | James Cummings | Craig Williams | 12 | 9.00 |
| The Playwright | Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott | Regan Bayliss | 3 | 12.00 |
| Devil Night | Michael, John & Wayne Hawkes | Michael Dee | 2 | 14.00 |
| Tycoon Star | Ben, Will & JD Hayes | Mark Zahra | 15 | 17.00 |
| Tentyris | Anthony & Sam Freedman | Damian Lane | 4 | 17.00 |
| Icarian Dream | Ciaron Maher | Thomas Stockdale | 7 | 19.00 |
| Wiltshire Square | Ciaron Maher | Harry Coffey | 13 | 21.00 |
| Extractor | Michael Freedman | Ben Melham | 8 | 21.00 |
| Miss Celine | Ben, Will & JD Hayes | Jye McNeil | 10 | 26.00 |
| Autumn Mystery | Rory Hunter | Patrick Moloney | 16 | 34.00 |
| Olatunde | Peter G Moody & Katherine Coleman | Billy Egan | 9 | 101.00 |
| Eden Rose | Jason Warren | Daniel Stackhouse | 14 | 126.00 |
Another key contender is My Gladiola, trained by John McArdle. This filly was runner-up in the Blue Diamond Fillies’ Prelude and has shown consistent form. Palm Angel, trained by Jason Warren, is another filly to watch. She won the Blue Diamond Fillies’ Prelude and has the potential to upset the favorite. Cherish Me, trained by Ciaron Maher, is a promising filly who won the Geelong Diamond on debut. Her lack of experience is a concern, but she has the potential to improve. Finally, Godolphin’s Tempted, trained by James Cummings, is a well-bred filly who could be a factor with a strong run.
Interestingly, recent Blue Diamond Stakes winners have often been last-start winners. This trend favors horses like Field Of Play, Palm Angel, and Cherish Me, who all come into the race off victories.
Interesting Statistics
- Average Winning Time: While the average winning time is not explicitly stated in the research material, recent winning times have been around 1:09-1:10.
- Most Successful Jockeys: Dwayne Dunn holds the record for most Blue Diamond Stakes wins with four consecutive victories from 2005 to 2008, including wins with Undoubtedly (2005), Nadeem (2006), Sleek Chassis (2007), and Reann (2008).
- Most Successful Trainers: David Hayes has trained five Blue Diamond Stakes winners.
- Unusual Occurrences: In 2003, the initial winner, Roedean, was disqualified due to a positive swab, and the race was awarded to the runner-up, Kusi. In 2024, Hayasugi became only the second filly to complete the Blue Diamond Preview – Prelude – Stakes treble.
Analyzing the barrier draw statistics for the Blue Diamond Stakes reveals that winners have come from a wide range of barriers. However, barriers 5 and 9 have been the most successful in recent years, with six and four wins respectively. This bodes well for Field Of Play, who has drawn barrier 5.
Futurity Stakes
The Futurity Stakes is a weight-for-age race for horses aged three years and older, run over 1400 meters at Caulfield Racecourse. With a prize purse of A$750,000, it’s a key race in the lead-up to the Australian Cup and other major autumn races1.
History and Significance
First run in 1898, the Futurity Stakes has a long and distinguished history, with past winners including champions like Ajax (three-time winner from 1938 to 1940), Manikato (four-time winner), and more recently, stars like More Joyous (2011) and Black Heart Bart (2017). The race is often used as a stepping stone to the Australian Cup at Flemington or to Sydney races like the George Ryder Stakes and Doncaster Mile. It is also the first leg of the Asian Mile Challenge, a four-race international series with significant prize money, highlighting the race’s global importance.
Initially a 1400m race, the Futurity Stakes was run at a mile from 2006 to 2010 but reverted to 1400m after that. Like the other races on this day, it was run at Flemington in 1996 due to the reconstruction of Caulfield and also run there during WWII.
Contenders and Odds
The 2025 Futurity Stakes features a strong field of 11 contenders. Mr Brightside, trained by Ben, Will & JD Hayes, is the dominant favorite with odds of $1.90. Mr Brightside is an eight-time Group 1 winner and comes into the race off a narrow second in the CF Orr Stakes. This suggests he is in top form and ready to add another Group 1 victory to his impressive record.
| Horse | Trainer | Jockey | Barrier | Odds |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mr Brightside | Ben, Will & JD Hayes | Craig Williams | 11 | 1.90 |
| I Wish I Win | Peter G Moody & Katherine Coleman | Ms Jamie Melham | 3 | 4.80 |
| Tom Kitten | James Cummings | 2 | 8.00 | |
| Angel Capital | Clinton McDonald | 11.00 | ||
| Private Life | Chris Waller | Damian Lane | 10 | 11.00 |
| Pericles | James Cummings | 1 | 15.00 | |
| Steparty | 15.00 | |||
| Evaporate | Ben, Will & JD Hayes | Michael Dee | 8 | 15.00 |
| Light Infantry Man | Ciaron Maher | Ethan Brown | 5 | 26.00 |
| Pinstriped | Enver Jusufovic | 6 | 26.00 | |
| Grinzinger Belle | 26.00 |
I Wish I Win, trained by Peter G Moody & Katherine Coleman, is another strong contender. This horse is a two-time Group 1 winner and has the potential to challenge Mr Brightside. Tom Kitten, trained by James Cummings, is a consistent performer who could be a factor with a good run. Angel Capital, trained by Clinton McDonald, and Private Life, trained by Chris Waller, are both potential improvers who could outrun their odds.
Interestingly, last-start winners have dominated recent Futurity Stakes results, with all but four of the 15 winners from 2010 – 2024 coming off a win. This trend favors horses like Mr Brightside, who finished second in his last start, and I Wish I Win, who has been performing well in recent jumpouts.
Interesting Statistics
- Average Winning Time: The average winning time is not explicitly stated in the research material, but recent winning times have been around 1:22-1:24.
- Most Successful Jockeys: No specific information on the most successful jockeys is available in the research material.
- Most Successful Trainers: No specific information on the most successful trainers is available in the research material.
- Unusual Occurrences: In 2021, there was a dead heat for first place in the Oakleigh Plate, with Celebrity Queen and Portland Sky sharing the victory. This was the first dead heat in a Group 1 race in Australia for many years.
The Futurity Stakes has a good record for favorites, with 11 winning from 2010-2024. This bodes well for Mr Brightside, who is the dominant favorite for the 2025 race.
Analyzing the barrier draw statistics for the Futurity Stakes reveals that barrier 7 has been the most successful in recent years, producing seven winners between 2010 and 2024. However, Mr Brightside has drawn barrier 11, which has not been as favorable historically.
Another interesting statistic is that the CF Orr Stakes has produced more Futurity Stakes champions than any other lead-up race in the past two decades. This suggests that Mr Brightside, who finished second in the CF Orr Stakes, is well-placed to win the Futurity Stakes.
Finally, it’s worth noting that three-year-olds have also had plenty of success in the Futurity Stakes, winning 11 times in 36 years. This adds another dimension to the race and suggests that younger horses should not be discounted.
Oakleigh Plate
The Oakleigh Plate is a handicap race for horses aged three years and older, run over 1100 meters at Caulfield Racecourse. With a prize purse of A$750,000, it’s a highly competitive sprint race that attracts a diverse field2.
History and Significance
First run in 1884, the Oakleigh Plate is one of Australia’s oldest and most prestigious sprint races. Past winners include champions like Malua (1884), San Domenico (1949), and more recently, stars like Fastnet Rock (2005), Snitzel (2006), and Lankan Rupee (2014). The Oakleigh Plate is the middle leg of the Victorian Autumn Sprint Triple Crown, preceded by the Black Caviar Lightning Stakes and followed by the Newmarket Handicap. This series adds another layer of excitement and prestige to the Oakleigh Plate.
Almost the entirety of the race’s history belongs at Caulfield, with only those races during World War Two (transferred to Flemington) and the 1996 + 2023 event (transferred to Sandown due to track redevelopments at Caulfield) held elsewhere.
Contenders and Odds
The 2025 Oakleigh Plate features a wide-open field of 17 sprinters. Estriella, trained by Ciaron Maher, is the slight favorite with odds of $4.00. Estriella is a consistent performer at Group level and has drawn well in barrier nine.
| Horse | Trainer | Jockey | Barrier | Odds |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Estriella | Ciaron Maher | Blake Shinn | 9 | 4.00 |
| She’s Bulletproof | Charlotte Littlefield | Craig Williams | 8 | 5.00 |
| I Am Me | Ciaron Maher | Nash Rawiller | 2 | 7.00 |
| Rey Magnerio | Robbie Griffiths | Jye McNeil | 5 | 9.00 |
| Jimmysstar | Ciaron Maher | Ethan Brown | 14 | 9.00 |
| Espionage | Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott | Dean Yendall | 11 | 9.00 |
| Arabian Summer | Tony & Calvin McEvoy | Ms Jamie Melham | 15 | 9.00 |
| Ostraka | Annabel Neasham & Rob Archibald | Mark Zahra | 17 | 10.00 |
| Golden Boom | Tony Gollan | Damian Lane | 13 | 17.00 |
| Headwall | Matthew Smith | Harry Coffey | 6 | 17.00 |
| Insurrection | Michael Freedman | Regan Bayliss | 12 | 19.00 |
| Mornington Glory | Gavin Bedggood | 21.00 | ||
| Sans Doute | Mark Walker | Liam Riordan | 10 | 21.00 |
| Sghirripa | Shane & Cassie Oxlade | Michael Dee | 3 | 21.00 |
| Ashford Street | Tom Dabernig | Teo Nugent | 4 | 26.00 |
| Hard To Say | Jason Deamer | Craig Newitt | 7 | 26.00 |
| Pondalowie | Emma-Lee & David Browne | 26.00 |
She’s Bulletproof, trained by Charlotte Littlefield, is a last-start winner who could challenge Estriella. I Am Me, another Maher-trained runner, is a Group 2 winner with a strong chance. Rey Magnerio, trained by Robbie Griffiths, and Jimmysstar, also trained by Maher, are both consistent performers who could be in the mix.
Interestingly, recent Oakleigh Plate winners have often been last-start winners. This trend favors horses like She’s Bulletproof, who comes into the race off a victory.
Interesting Statistics
- Average Winning Time: The average winning time is not explicitly stated in the research material.
- Most Successful Jockeys: No specific information on the most successful jockeys is available in the research material.
- Most Successful Trainers: No specific information on the most successful trainers is available in the research material.
- Unusual Occurrences: The Oakleigh Plate has resulted in a dead heat for first place twice in its history, in 1931 and 1932. Interestingly, this unusual occurrence happened twice in a row.
The Oakleigh Plate has a poor record for favorites, with Marabi ($2.60), Lankan Rupee ($4 in 2014), and Russian Revolution ($4.60 in 2018) the only favorites to salute since Weekend Hussler (2008). This suggests that the 2025 Oakleigh Plate could be an open race with potential for an upset.
Analyzing the barrier draw statistics for the Oakleigh Plate reveals that winners have come from a wide range of barriers. However, eight of the 15 winners from 2009-2024 jumped from a double-digit barrier. This suggests that horses drawn wide, like Jimmysstar and Arabian Summer, should not be discounted.
It’s also worth noting that the minimum weight for the Oakleigh Plate is 50kg for three-year-olds and 52kg for four-year-olds and up. This information is important to consider when assessing the chances of the different contenders.
Synthesis and Conclusion
The weekend of February 22nd, 2025 is set to be a captivating one for horse racing fans in Australia. With four Group 1 races on the card at Caulfield, there’s something for everyone, from the excitement of the two-year-old Blue Diamond Stakes to the established stars clashing in the Futurity Stakes and the competitive sprint of the Oakleigh Plate. Each race has its own unique history and significance, and the fields are packed with talented contenders.
One of the key themes emerging from the analysis is the importance of recent form. In both the Blue Diamond Stakes and the Oakleigh Plate, last-start winners have a strong record. This suggests that horses like Field Of Play and She’s Bulletproof, who come into their respective races off victories, could have an edge.
Another interesting trend is the dominance of certain trainers. David Hayes has a strong record in the Blue Diamond Stakes, while the CF Orr Stakes has been a key lead-up race for the Futurity Stakes. These trends can be useful when making betting decisions.
While predicting the outcomes of these races is always a challenge, the information provided in this article should equip enthusiasts with the knowledge to make informed decisions and enjoy the thrilling spectacle of Group 1 racing. With the potential for upsets and the emergence of new stars, the weekend promises to be full of surprises and excitement.
Works cited
1. 2025 Futurity Stakes: Race History | Racing and Sports, accessed February 19, 2025, https://www.racingandsports.com.au/news/racing/news/2025-02-18/2025-futurity-stakes-race-history/681795
2. 2025 Oakleigh Plate: Race History | Racing and Sports, accessed February 19, 2025, https://www.racingandsports.com.au/news/racing/news/0001-01-01/2025-oakleigh-plate-race-history/681794
