Closer to free in contention for 2026 blue diamond stakes at Caulfield

Caulfield-bound Closer To Free faces no penalty from trainer Danny O’Brien for his novice status ahead of Victoria’s elite two-year-old showdown.

His qualification for Saturday’s Group 1 Blue Diamond Stakes (1200m) at Caulfield stemmed from a debut romp in the Blue Diamond Prelude (1100m) held on February 7.

Prior to that, O’Brien snapped up the colt post a Caulfield Heath barrier trial conquest nine days earlier under Adrian Corboy’s watch.

Post-debut, Closer To Free has shown further maturation, leaving O’Brien relaxed about the colt’s sophomore appearance on Saturday.

Devil Night mirrored this path last year, capturing the Blue Diamond on his second start following a Prelude second two weeks prior.

“The narrative around his trial was that he was wound up, but Adrian told me he was three or four weeks behind with him because he got cast in his box over Christmas and he missed a couple of weeks work,” O’Brien said.

“When he came to the trials here, he said there was a lot of improvement in the horse and when I saw him in the yard before the Prelude I thought ‘he’s right, you might need another gallop’, but he came out of it really well and will be finding a couple of lengths on Saturday on top of what he’s already shown.”

Saturday’s race poses no issue for O’Brien due to Closer To Free’s light resume.

“The profile of these two-year-old races has changed over the last 15 or 20 years,” O’Brien said.

“The two-year-olds are not having as many starts as they used to before Christmas and ultimately, they get one or two post-Christmas before running in the Blue Diamond and even the Golden Slipper.

“I don’t think that is a disadvantage. I know when Star Witness won it, it was only his third race start, one start in December, one start in January, and then into to the Diamond.”

Discussing Australia’s breeding evolution, O’Brien notes a departure from rushing juveniles to the track.

“When I first started in racing, there probably wasn’t the number of shuttle stallions standing,” O’Brien said.

“It was more the colonials, they were a bit hardier, a bit more get up get going early, whereas nearly every stallion in Australia now has some form of shuttle blood.

“There has been a gradual shift, so I don’t think there is any disadvantage and he has been very well educated and we can thank Adrian for that.

“He’s got a very natural brain and there will be no horse that will handle the parade better than him.

“He’s so relaxed.”

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