Altermatum ready for Blue Diamond Prelude assault
It is the time of the year where the two-year-olds need to start showing their credentials if they want to be players in the big autumn races.
At Caulfield on Saturday are the two divisions of the Blue Diamond Prelude (1100m), one for the fillies and another for the colts and geldings.
There have been four two–year–olds in the last 10 years to win a division of the Prelude and then claim the Group 1 Blue Diamond Stakes (1200m) at Caulfield two weeks later – Earthquake (2014), Catchy (2017), Written By (2018) and Lyre (2019).
Tony and Calvin McEvoy have set Altermatum for the Group 1 race on February 24 and the filly kicks off her latest campaign on in a Prelude on Saturday.
Altermatum started her racing career in Victoria’s first two-year-old race of the season, finishing third in the Maribyrnong Trial Stakes (1000m) in October.
The daughter of Zoustar was immediately spelled but has been given plenty of work ahead of her return on Saturday.
Altermatum was seen at the jump-outs on the Heath track at Caulfield on January 16, finishing second, and two weeks later at Geelong, again finishing second, in a 1000m trial.
Calvin McEvoy said the filly had progressed and he liked the way that Altermatum went about her work in the trial.
“We trialled her in blinkers, but we’ve got no intention of running her in them first-up,” McEvoy said.
“But it was good to see her in them as now you have them up your sleeve.
“She was good. She jumped well and then got back and she will be a filly that will be at her best over further, no doubt about that.
“She’s a classy filly. I think she can give it a shake and then the 1200 (metres) will be better for her and in time 1400 and a mile is going to be even better.”
More Racing News
War Machine to target the 2026 Australia Stakes
Top-class sprinter War Machine will resume in the Group 2 Australia Stakes (1200m) at Pakenham on Friday night as connections eye a strong autumn campaign. The race, traditionally held at Moonee Valley, has been moved due to redevelopment works and shapes as an ideal launchpad for the Lindsay Park galloper. War Machine...
2026 Golden Slipper Stakes favourite Incognito nearing return to the races
The absence of Incognito from the Magic Millions 2YO Classic did little to dent his standing in Golden Slipper markets, with the colt edging closer to a raceday return. Michael Freedman elected to sidestep the Gold Coast feature with the $1 million purchase, instead opting for a controlled trial as the...
Antino to target 2026 Queen Elizabeth Stakes in the Autumn
A strong trial session at Deagon on Tuesday will be highlighted by the return of Antino as Tony Gollan begins plotting another autumn campaign for the talented gelding. Antino has not raced since his disappointing effort in the Group 1 Cox Plate, where he finished last after failing to fire on...
Torque To Be Sure breaks maiden in 2026 Magic Millions Guineas, survives protest
Torque To Be Sure finally lived up to his promise with a breakthrough victory in the $3 million Magic Millions 3yo Guineas, though his success came with a nervous wait in the stewards’ room. The Matthew Dunn-trained gelding drifted under pressure in the closing stages, bumping race favourite Ninja as the...
Future History too strong in the 2026 January Cup
Future History showed his class and toughness when landing the $200,000 Listed January Cup at Rosehill, giving Ciaron Maher another feature race success. The eight-year-old almost didn’t take his place in the race after heavy rain downgraded the track, but connections elected to press on despite concerns about the conditions. Ridden positively...
Unit Five powers home in the 2026 Magic Millions Classic
Unit Five announced himself as a rising star with a powerful victory in the $3 million Magic Millions 2YO Classic, overcoming far more seasoned rivals despite limited race experience. The Ciaron Maher-trained colt, ridden confidently by Thomas Stockdale, held off Tornado Valley by a length, with By Choice finishing just behind...
Golden Slipper Stakes 2026 plans for Godolphin’s Outspan
The Godolphin-trained Outspan has thrust himself into Golden Slipper calculations after a commanding win at Rosehill on Saturday. After settling just behind the speed in the 1100m contest, the Michael Freedman-trained colt finished strongly to defeat Long Throw ($15) by 1-1/2 lengths, with Miss Chanel ($4.60) another half-length back. The performance marked...
Big Sky surges into 2026 Blue Diamond Stakes calculations
Big Sky’s dominant debut at Flemington has propelled him straight into calculations for the Group 1 Blue Diamond Stakes (1200m), giving Mick Price and Michael Kent Jnr the top two runners in early betting. The Bivouac colt overcame a wide draw in the TAB We’re On (1000m), travelling strongly under Jordan...
Mile no issue for Merrigold in 2026 Vobis Gold Distaff
Trainer John Sadler admitted a touch of stubbornness delayed Merrigold’s step up to 1600 metres, but the mare made him look wise with a dominant Flemington victory. The five-year-old was having her first start beyond 1400 metres and handled the rise in distance with ease when taking out the Vobis Gold...
Tony Gollan’s two-year-old Itching To Go in 2026 Magic Millions Classic
Tony Gollan is leaning on a proven strategy as Itchintogo lines up on a seven-day backup in the Magic Millions 2yo Classic (1200m) this Saturday. The approach has delivered strong results historically, with six winners of the $3 million race following the same path over the past 15 years. Purchased for $60,000...