Equiano has 9 two year-olds among first declarations for the Group 1 Blue Diamond Stakes at Caulfield on February 28.

The Swettenham Stud shuttler is completing a successful first-season in Europe – his filly Somedaysrdiamonds won again at Wolverhampton last Friday.

And on the local front, Gary Portelli’s speedy colt Domanus – the first Equiano to race in Australia – has accepted for the Surf Meets The Turf Plate (1000m) at Randwick on Saturday.

Topping the Equiano declarations for the G1 Blue Diamond is his record-breaking colt Kerauno and Trust In A Gust’s half-brother The Show Goes On.

Kerauno (2c Equiano – Hidden Energy by Dehere) broke the record for a first-season sire at the 2014 Melbourne Premier yearling sale when commanding $420,000.  He is being trained by Mick Price for Malaysian based owner Vincent Tan.  His dam was Group 1 placed in the SAJC Robert Sangster Stakes.

The Show Goes On (2c Equiano – Subtle Breeze by Storm Cat) made $120,000 at the 2014 Gold Coast Magic Millions and he looked an even bigger bargain when Trust In A Gust came out and won the G1 Toorak Hcp last month.  He is with Lloyd Kennewell in Adelaide and among his connections is Trust In A Gust’s managing owner David Speechley.

Other trainers who paid up their Equianos for the Blue Diamond are;

DEAN BINAISSE
Thunder Gun (2c Equiano – Stings by Fusaichi Pegasus)

SHEA EDEN
Equinette (2f Equiano – Exo by Hennessy)

MARK RILEY
Apriano (2c Equiano – Aprisa by Viscount)

MALUA RACING
Media Sauvy (2c Equiano – Cape Augusta by Cape Town)

PAT CAREY
Unnamed (2f Equiano – Anna Dana by Chester House)

ELLERTON ZAHRA RACING
Unnamed (2f Equiano – Flying Spice by Flying Spur)

AMY JOHNSTON
Unnamed (2c Equiano – Gilded Minstrel by Gilded Time)