Racing Victoria Completes Blue Diamond Inspections; Two Horses Reinspected After Gait Changes

A late veterinary intervention reshaped the 19-strong acceptor list for the Group 1 $2 million Sportsbet Blue Diamond Stakes (1200m) at Caulfield, with the Peter and Paul Snowden-trained colt Bodyguard withdrawn after failing a reinspection and first emergency In Her Eyes (L & T Corstens) elevated into the field for Saturday, Feb. 21, 2026. Racing Victoria reported that Bodyguard “had not improved and again presented with lameness. Accordingly, Bodyguard will be withdrawn from the race by RV Stewards acting on veterinary advice.”

Racing Victoria’s vet team completed pre-race inspections on Feb. 19 and passed the majority of runners - 17 of 19 accepted horses were reported fit to race - but two juveniles were flagged for further checks after officials observed changes in their action. The official release, quoted across media, said: “The Lindsay Park-trained Torture and Tony & Calvin McEvoy-trained Tough Romance both presented with a change in their gait and as a result will be reinspected tomorrow to determine their suitability to race.”

Lindsay Park’s filly Torture, a Sword Of State filly who finished third in the Karaka Millions at Ellerslie on Jan. 24, was initially one of the pair earmarked for a secondary exam. Betsy’s Paul Tatnell later reported the stewards’ decision from the reinspect: “The filly was reinspected and not passed suitable to race in Saturday’s Group 1 $2 million Sportsbet Blue Diamond Stakes (1200m) at Caulfield.” That ruling, if confirmed by Racing Victoria, removes a lightly raced contender with an international placing from the juvenile classic.

Tony and Calvin McEvoy’s Tough Romance was the other juvenile checked after presenting with a gait change; The Straight noted the All Too Hard colt had won at Pakenham on Jan. 29. Betsy reported a different outcome from the reinspect for Tough Romance: “The McEvoy-trained Tough Romance was passed suitable to race, as were the remaining 16 acceptors.”

The field has been further affected by stable withdrawals and inspection timing. TTR Aus NZ and Racing.com reported Stretan Ruler (Phillip Stokes) was withdrawn prior to inspection and will run in Sydney on Saturday. Racing Victoria confirmed new acceptors Zestiman (B, W & JD Hayes) and Kuroyanagi (Clarken & O’Shea) were inspected for the first time and passed, while Racing.com noted Eurocanto and Jacaranda were still to be inspected at the time of its report. Racing.com also listed Robbie Griffiths-trained Almost An Angel as first in line to gain a start in a snapshot that differs from Racing Victoria’s confirmation that In Her Eyes gained a start after Bodyguard’s withdrawal.

Trainer Mick Price took the precautionary step of scratching early market favourite Big Sky despite the colt having passed the RV trot-up, telling Betsy: “I am going to scratch our horse Big Sky, I am not happy with him this morning. I know he passed the RV trot up yesterday with all due respect, that’s fine, he trotted out nice and clean I was there obviously.” Price added: “But look, we had a little canter this morning with him, and his action is not what it should be.” He referenced stride analysis and scans: “We just, we know by having a look at the stride data that on Tuesday morning, his stride was just a little bit shorter than what it should be, like ten centimetres shorter than what it should be per stride.” Price said X-rays showed “a little bit of immaturity near front” and he wanted “a second opinion on what’s going on in that knee.”

Procedurally, Racing Victoria detailed that Bodyguard was reinspected by a panel of three veterinarians - two from RV and one independent - and that RV Stewards act on veterinary advice when withdrawing runners. Final field confirmation and any further late changes will hinge on Friday morning reinspections and stewards’ bulletins; with $2 million on the line and a reshuffled emergency order, the Blue Diamond now has fresh questions for trainers, punters and Caulfield economies. Tell us whether you back Tough Romance after its clearance or side with trainers who scratched Big Sky - share or comment below.