Big Sky soars to Blue Diamond favouritism after Chairman’s Stakes win
Mick Price looks to have a big chance of landing a third career Blue Diamond Stakes (Gr 1, 1200m) after Big Sky (Bivouac) created another hugely favourable impression when easily taking out Saturday’s Chairman’s Stakes (Gr 3, 1000m) at Caulfield.
The colt was lining up for just his second start after having bolted up by 2.8 lengths on debut in a 1000-metre maiden at Flemington earlier in the month, and was even more impressive this time round, scoring by three lengths under an almost motionless Ben Melham.
Taking on six rivals in Saturday’s Group 3, that was also over 1000 metres, Big Sky was sent off the strong $1.60 favourite to double his winning tally and the pre-race confidence from punters would prove well placed.
Jumping well from barrier two, the son of Bivouac (Exceed And Excel) showed plenty of early speed to gain the lead under Melham and was allowed to roll on throughout the contest.
Rounding the home bend with plenty of his rivals at work, Big Sky came down the home straight with ease and was barely extended at the finish to defeat debut Magic Millions VIC 2YO Classic (1100m) placegetter Invincible Son (Farnan).
There was a further half-length back to La Gitana (Home Affairs) in third place, with Melham left impressed by the winning effort of his mount.
“He’s always shown really good ability, he just does things on feel a little bit,” the winning rider said.
“He’ll sort of spook at something and get running, but he certainly looks more awkward than he feels out there. He couldn’t have been any more impressive today. I didn’t really get too stuck into him and he won with a bit in hand.”
Price, who co-trains in partnership with Michael Kent Jnr, has won the Blue Diamond on two occasions with Samaready (More Than Ready) (2012) and Extreme Choice (Not A Single Doubt) (2016), while Roedean (Flying Spur) (2003) was disqualified after returning a positive swab, felt his colt improved for the benefit of his debut.
“I think he lost a bit of nervousness [from Flemington],” Price said. “He was a bit unsure of himself [that day], but today he was a bit cooler.
“He’s a colt that is learning. He’s not an alpha colt, he’s a quiet colt and if he has a good three weeks, he should turn up [in the Blue Diamond].
“I wanted to run him in this because I thought the three weeks would be good for him.
“A two-year-old, having his first prep, you can’t get too many runs out of them but hopefully he can get to the Blue Diamond and then maybe Sydney.”
The burning question for Big Sky now will surely be the extra 200-metre distance of the Blue Diamond on February 21, a race for which he is now the $5 co-favourite for alongside his debut-winning Home Affairs (I Am Invincible) stablemate Guest House, but Price is confident that the higher tempo in that feature race would be a huge positive for his colt.
“I think a furlong out he was clocking off and that’s probably a good sign, so the extra pressure of a Blue Diamond won’t do him any harm,” Price said.
“He doesn’t have to lead all the time, but it’s just the way the two races have worked out.
“I won’t go putting any gear on him. I don’t like messing around too much with them.
“I just think we will let it unfold naturally. He’s got a good rider on every morning, so we’ll train him and let it unfold.”
Purchased from the draft of Eureka Stud at last year’s Magic Millions yearling sale for $140,000 by Mick Price Racing & Breeding, Big Sky, who became the fourth individual stakes winner for Bivouac courtesy of Saturday’s success is the third winner from as many to race out of the Red Dazzler (Red Ransom) mare Zoom By.
Zoom By foaled a colt by Spirit Of Boom (Sequalo) in October and has since been covered by Anamoe (Street Boss). She has a foal filly by Spirit Of Boom that will be sold at the upcoming Inglis Classic Yearling Sale as Lot 607 as part of Eureka Stud’s 12-strong draft.
Bivouac, who currently sits third in the second-season sires standings, stood the 2025 breeding season at Darley’s Kelvinside for an unchanged fee of $55,000 (inc GST).