On Thursday, two fascinating divisions of the Ladbrokes Blue Diamond Previews at Sandown-Hillside take place, with numerous first starters adding to the intrigue.
Seven of the ten acceptors for the colts and gelding preview will be making their career debuts.
The likely favourite is the Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott-trained The Instructor.
The son of Newgate Farm's white-hot Russian Revolution gave nothing else a chance in a 3-length romp on debut at Pakenham on January 12.
A $230,000 Magic Millions Gold Coast March Yearling Sale purchase for First Light Racing/Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott Racing from the Lyndhurst Stud draft, The Instructor is the second winner for Denman mare Right of Way.
The Simon Zahra trained Krakarib is the most experienced runner in the race. Unplaced behind Zulfiqar when on debut in the Listed Maribyrnong Trial Stakes, the Ribchester (IRE) colt surprised when leading at every call in the Group III Darley Maribyrnong Plate (1000m) on Melbourne Cup Day at Flemington. The win sees him carry a 2kg penalty.
Bred by Spendthrift Australia, Krakarib was bought out of the paddock for a reported $30,000. He has banked more than four times that in two starts.
He is the first foal of the Dawn Approach (IRE) mare Skagerrak, who won a Newcastle maiden in three starts for James Cummings.
Godolphin's homebred Fastnet Rock colt Corniche finished third on debut behind Croatian Belle at Moonee Valley on New Year's Eve.
Corniche is a half-brother to dual Group III winner Heresy (Street Boss) out of the Group III VRC Thoroughbred Breeders' Stakes winner Montsegur (New Approach).
Also carrying the Godolphin silks is the Anthony and Sam Freedman-trained Fire Follower.
The son of the promising first-season sire Harry Angel (IRE) is being kept safe in early betting.
There could be a bit of sentiment here as the half-brother to multiple Group III-placed Matilija (Medaglia D'Oro) is the final foal of the high-class Romneya.
The daughter of Red Ransom (USA) and Mannington won six and was runner-up six times in an 18-start career. Her highlight came in the Group II Moonee Valley Classic while she was runner-up to stablemate Portillo in the Surround stakes at Randwick and to Cat's Whisker in the Let's Elope Stakes at Flemington.
The highest-priced yearling in the race is the Peter Moody-trained Snitzel colt Amigo, who runs in the Wanless family's tartan colours. They race him in partnership with Tony Fung.
A $975,000 purchase for Tasman Bloodstock/TFI from the Arrowfield draft at the Magic Millions, Amigo is out of the Listed MVRC Alexandra Stakes winner You're So So Good (Savabeel), who was runner-up to Ferlax in the Group 1 Australian Guineas.
Another son of Snitzel, Altruist, makes his debut for Mick Price & Michael Kent Jnr.
A $400,000 buy for De Burgh Equine / OTI Racing from the Arrowfield draft at Inglis Easter, Altruist is the second foal of the champion Sprinter & Older Female in South Africa in 2016-17, 5-time Group 1 winner Carry On Alice (SAF) (Captain Al).
Also being kept safe in early markets is the Anthony and Sam Freedman-trained Goodes, one of two debutants in the race by champion stallion Written Tycoon.
Rosemont-Victorian Alliance/Suman Hedge Bloodstock (FBAA)/David Redvers Bloodstock shelled out $500,000 for Goodes from the Musk Creek Farm draft at the Magic Millions.
He is the second foal of the well-related Fusaichi Pegasus (USA) mare Apologynotaccepted (USA), who was runner-up in the Grade II Fleur de Lis Hcp at Churchill Downs.
The second Written Tycoon is another for Peter Moody. Scorsese, a $180,000 Magic Millions purchase for Dalziel Bloodstock/Moody Racing from the Newhaven Park draft, is out of the stakes-placed Snitzel mare Hollyweird, a sister to Group II ATC Light Fingers Stakes winner Perignon.
Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott also have the favourite in the fillies division of the Blue Diamond Preview.
The Exceed And Excel filly Aditi finished second to Zulfiqar in the Listed Maribyrnong Trial Stakes at Flemington on October 1.
Consigned by Burnewang North Pastoral to the National Weanling Sale, Aditi was knocked down to Rosemont Stud for $310,000. She is the first foal of the Sydney metro winner Witches (Lonhro), a three-quarter sister to Group II winners Renaissance and Sessions and Listed winner Haunted.
The only winner in the race is the Godolphin homebred Exploring. The daughter of Brazen Beau carries a 2kg penalty for winning at Flemington on New Year's Day.
From the Golden Slipper winner Fairy Walk family, Exploring is the first foal of the Group III placed Exceed An Excel mare, Cristobal.
Bookmakers are playing it safe with the only runner to make two starts, the Snitzel filly, Tabata Set.
A $380,000 Magic Millions purchase for Ciaron Maher Bloodstock $380,000 from the Arrowfield draft, Tabata Set kick-started her career with fourth in the Group III Ottawa Stakes at Flemington before disappointing in the Magic Millions Ballarat 2YO Classic.
Her dam Time Check (USA) (Shamardal) is a winning half-sister to Darley blue hen Essaouira.
Representing Yulong Stud's first-season stallion, Grunt is the Peter and Paul Snowden-trained All At Once. She has a bit to live up to as a half-sister to Frankel's triple Group III winner. My Whisper.
There will be a lot of interest in the debut of the Anthony and Sam Freedman-trained Elderberry. The OTI colour bearer comes from the first and only Australian crop of Bolt D'Oro (USA), recently crowned as the champion first-season sire in North America.
Bred by Spendthrift Australia, Elderberry is the first foal of the speedy Reward For Effort mare Essence Of Terror.
The Freedmans have four entered. Joining Elderberry is the Spirit Of Boom debutant De Sonic Boom and Right To Party and the once-raced Ode To Joy.
A $300,000 Inglis Premier purchase for James Bester Bloodstock from the Supreme Thoroughbreds draft, De Sonic Boom is a Spirit Of Boom half-sister to Listed Hareeba Stakes winner Laverrod from the Fastnet Rock mare Demasheen.
One of five runners in the race for Zoustar, Right To Party is a homebred for Jonathon Munz. She is a half-sister to Group III KJC Bauhinia Sprint Trophy winner Big Party (Exceed And Excel), and stakes-placegetters Top Me Up and General Groove.
The Written Tycoon filly Ode To Joy will be out to improve on her fist-up third at Flemington behind Exploring. Ode To Joy runs in the colours of Newgate Farm. She is the first foal of Violence mare Cicotri who won her only two starts, including a stakes race at Gulfstream Park. Cicatrix had a Fastnet Rock colt make $625,000 at the recent Magic Millions.
Widden Stud's Zoustar has the two most expensive yearlings in the race.
Leading the way by some distance is the Peter Moody-trained Sensical, a $950,000 buy for her trainer from the Strawberry Hill Stud draft at the Gold Coast.
A half-sister to Listed Bill Carter Stakes winner Eawase (Sebring), Sensical is a daughter of the Magic Millions 2yo Classic winner and Group 1 William Reid Stakes runner-up Karuta Queen (Not A Single Doubt).
The John McArdle-trained Zoustar filly Zousuko was a $525,000 purchase for Redgum Racing from the Yarraman Stud draft at the Magic Millions. Her lightly raced dam Tetsuko (I Am Invincible) won at Randwick, was runner-up in the Listed Gimcrack Stakes, and was third in the Group II Sweet Embrace Stakes.
Another Zoustar in the Moody stable is Ginger 'N' Pink, a $250,000 purchase from the Kitchwin Hills draft at Easter. Sporting the colours of Neil Werrett, Ginger 'N' Pink is the second foal of the winning Husson (ARG) mare Dancers, which hails from the family of Snippets.
Robbie Griffiths & Mathew de Kock-trained Celestial Storm makes it five for Zoustar. A $430,000 Inglis Premier purchase for Griffiths de Kock Racing / Peter Ford Thoroughbreds (FBAA) / Heywood Bloodstock from the Widden Stud draft, Celestial Storm finished strongly for fifth in the Group III Ottawa Stakes at Flemington. She is the second foal of the Group II Wakeful Stakes runner-up Sebring Dream.
Grahame Begg owns and trains the debutant Written Bligh, a daughter of his Blue Diamond Stakes winner Written By.
Passed in short of his $60,000 reserve when offered by Milburn Creek at the Inglis Premier, Written Bligh is out of the Redoute’s Choice mare Lady Bligh, a half-sister to stakes-winner and Group 1 Caulfield Guineas runner-up Run For Levi.
