SYDNEY youngster, Beneteau, was the big winner at today’s barrier draw for the $1 million Arrowfield Stud Blue Diamond Stakes, 1200m, to be run at Caulfield on Saturday.

The $1mn yearling purchase, which is unbeaten in two starts for trainer Paul Messara, drew barrier nine in the capacity field of 16 that will contest Victoria’s richest two-year-old race.

His main dangers all fared worse with Fillies Preview winner Crystal Lily in barrier 11, the unbeaten Star Witness in 15 and dynamic Fillies Prelude winner Psychologist drawing 16.

Beneteau is the $3.60 favourite in the TAB Fixed Odds market following the draw with Psychologist second elect at $6, Star Witness $8 and Crystal Lily $9.

“There should be good speed now with those horses drawn out wide so we’ll probably just try and camp on their backs and go from there,” Messara said.

“It will be up to Daniel (Ganderton, jockey) to judge where we are in the race from the gate, but just the way the barriers have panned out we should find ourselves in a very nice position. Certainly the draw has changed the dynamics of the race.”

Beneteau, who is part-owned by race sponsors Arrowfield Stud, has the pedigree to win theBlue Diamond being a son of 1999 winner Redoute’s Choice out of a sister to 2004 winner Alinghi. Victory would cement a bright future for both horse and trainer.

“It would be a huge, huge victory for me personally and also for the horse,” Messara said.

“He’s probably the number one stallion prospect of his generation and he could be worth anything down the track as a potential stallion.”

Beneteau set a class record when winning the Colts and Geldings Prelude at his Melbourne debut on 6 February and Messara said that was only the tip of the iceberg.

“I’m nowhere near the bottom of him,” he declared. “Whatever he does this Saturday he’s still learning, he has very little idea what it’s all about, so there’s plenty of improvement.”

Beneteau will need to overcome the hoodoo surrounding Blue Diamond favourites with only two – Bel Esprit (2002) and Alinghi – saluting in the past 16 editions.

On the flip side, Messara can take solace in the fact barrier nine has produced two of the past three Blue Diamond winners in Sleek Chassis (2007) and Reaan (2008).

Premier trainer David Hayes, who boasts a record five Blue Diamonds on his CV, has three runners engaged in the race, the colt Legalistic and the fillies Shaaheq and Evidentia.

Evidentia will be ridden by Hong Kong’s number one jockey, Brett Prebble, who makes a sweeping visit to his hometown in search of his first Blue Diamond.

Trainer Peter Moody and jockey Luke Nolen will be chasing back-to-back victories with fillyWillow Creek sneaking into the field. She’ll carry saddlecloth 16.

The field is split evenly between the series with eight colts and eight fillies contesting the race which is timed to go at 4pm (AEST) and headlines a bumper day’s racing at Caulfield.

RACING VICTORIA MEDIA RELEASE

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