Blue Diamond Day is one of the biggest and best on the racing calendar and it's a terrific betting heat in 2019.
With no standout performer going into the race this year we are left with depth in the chances and depth in the betting - and we are keen to play.
The colts went harder early than the fillies in the Preludes and while I Am Immortal posted a solid enough rating winning there he does look a risk stretching that out to 1200m with another peak likely to be required.
That's also a bit of a knock on those that couldn't reel him in there. They certainly had their chance to take him down and couldn't. The fillies looks the better heat despite a 25-1 winner in Lyre .
She has a hope again, as do the placegetters, but we're going to make out each way play the closer there in Brooklyn Hustle. She closed of solidly there. Solid not spectacular but it leaves her nicely poised to peak on the big day and her debut run was as sharp as anything on offer going into the Diamond. The possible exception to that is Catch Me's Preview win and she is probably a worthwhile gamble to bounce back from the Prelude as well.
Double figures are kicking around about both of those fillies and that appeals as a good bet - particularly for Brooklyn Hustle who looks nicely on track to run her best race on Saturday.
The Diamond may be wide open but the undercard is laced with short-priced favourites with fairly obviously good chances. So which one of them is the bet of the day?
There are five favourites inside 2-1 and of those the one we are happiest to stamp as our 'play of the day' is Alizee.
Not only did she sparkle in the Expressway last time but the key local lead-up, the C.F Orr, turned into a low-pressure and low-rating edition - leaving the form looking extremely vulnerable.
Alizee is drawn wide, and there's a reasonable chance that things don't just fall into her lap, but her lethal turn of foot looks more than enough to drag her out of an awkward spot.
THE MELBOURNE MAIL
Play Of The Day: Race 6 #11 Alizee @ 2.20
Each Way Play: Race 7 #13 Brooklyn Hustle @ $11.00