Diamond day in store with Rubick, Earthquake going head to head and Fiorente also on show

BLUE Diamond Stakes day has been branded racing’s best-kept secret.

WITH three Group 1s, three Group 2s and a relaxed rather than squeezed-in crowd, Blue Diamond Stakes day has been branded racing’s best-kept secret.

But there will be no secrets Saturday night.

Our champion two-year-old will be well and truly revealed in the Diamond, Fiorente will probably be confirmed as our middle-distance, weight-for-age star and Bull Point will probably prove that the three-year-olds are more than a match for the older horses.

More things will be revealed, too, such as whether Bel Sprinter has lost his mojo or can produce one of his rare blinders, albeit with topweight, in the Oakleigh Plate.

It’s as interesting a Diamond as we have seen for years; not one standout, but two.

The barrier draw appears to have pushed things Rubick’s way and punters have responded by backing him into outright favouritism.

He has drawn 10 and Brenton Avdulla has the luxury of gliding forward rather than pushing hard to hold the lead, as he did from the inside gate in his Prelude.

Avdulla reckons Rubick can lead, sit outside the leader or take a sit.

There are no such options for Earthquake, who lacks the natural zing of Rubick and will probably have to slot in — if possible — from barrier 15.

For Earthquake pushing forward may be perilous but going back too far is simply too negative.

The race is Rubick’s to lose.

Another filly, Nayeli, may be the danger courtesy of the barrier draw. She has drawn four and can take a great sit in third or fourth.

Fiorente should pack too many guns first-up in the Peter Young Stakes. He’d be a better bet at Flemington, but 1800m is the perfect launching pad for a Melbourne Cup winner with a champion’s turn of foot.

The Lloyd Williams-owned grinders Green Moon and Mourayan lack the gears to go with Fiorente.

The danger, if any, is Pakal, who was ridden negatively first-up but will surely press forward second-up at a perfect trip, and is fitter. He will at least give Fiorente something to run down.

Bull Point versus Moment Of Change in the Futurity Stakes, now back to its traditional 1400m, is a great undercard clash; the smart, in-form, high-rolling older horse versus the classy, tenacious three-year-old.

If Bull Point can sit close enough, which he should, he should also be able to chase down Moment Of Change.

The Oakleigh Plate is always an enticing scramble and on Saturday it’s no different.

Bel Sprinter is dynamite when he gets the right ingredients and 1100m fresh from a middle gate (he hates drawing in) and around a turn is perfect for him to flash over the top, even with 58kg.

Shamal Wind will go well again with her light weight, but the best value is surely Gregers, who flies fresh, has drawn perfectly to swoop, is every bit as good as Shamal Wind and double the odds.