Blue Diamond Stakes Day a resounding success with Portland Sky victorious in the Group 1 Oakleigh Plate

The 2021 edition of arguably Caulfield's premier race day will long be remembered with a stunning dead heat in the 1100m Oakleigh Plate between our very own Portland Sky and WA speedster Celebrity Queen

Jumping from barrier 5 and carrying 50kgs, jockey Teo Nugent allowed Portland Sky to be on pace early, sitting comfortably between leaders Ancestry and fellow 3yo colt Anders. However once they entered the straight, it was Portland Sky's dynamic turn of foot that propelled him into the lead and sheer toughness that kept him there - right until the line where 4yo mare Celebrity Queen having travelled up along the rails, shared the lead with him at the crucial moment.

An anxious wait ensued to determine which horse would be the victor, however once 3 and then 4 minutes passed, it was inevitable that the judges could not split the two and a dead heat was declared! What a thrilling result for apprentice jockey Teo Nugent in what was his first ride in a group 1 race.

Incredibly, it was the 3rd dead heat in the Oakleigh Plate's rich history; the first in 1931 (Merab & First Arrow) and then astonishingly again the following year in 1932 (Blematic & Umbertana).

Portland Sky's brilliant Oakleigh Plate win followed two previous Group 3 wins - the Manfred Stakes at Caulfield in January and the Red Anchor Stakes at Moonee Valley in October last year, both over 1200m.

Earlier in the day, 3yo filly Malicorne ran a super 2nd placing - by a nose - in the Group 2 Angus Armanasco Stakes over 1400m.

The 3yo Akeed Mofeed x Mezeray Miss filly continues to improve at each start, having run 2nd by a an inch the start before in the Group 3 Kevin Hayes Stakes over 1200m at Caulfield.