David Hayes rates Irish Lights as his best chance of extending his record of five Blue Diamond Stakes at Caulfield on Saturday.Hayes has three runners in Victoria's premier juvenile event which he first won with Canonise in 1991.Principality won it in 1995 before Hayes spent the following 10 years training in Hong Kong.He has won three Blue Diamonds since his return to Australia with Nadeem in 2006, Sleek Chassis in 2007 and Reaan in 2008.Not only did he win the past three, but he also trained t

David Hayes rates Irish Lights as his best chance of extending his record of five Blue Diamond Stakes at Caulfield on Saturday.

Hayes has three runners in Victoria's premier juvenile event which he first won with Canonise in 1991.

Principality won it in 1995 before Hayes spent the following 10 years training in Hong Kong.

He has won three Blue Diamonds since his return to Australia with Nadeem in 2006, Sleek Chassis in 2007 and Reaan in 2008.

Not only did he win the past three, but he also trained the runner-up in those races, Miss Finland, Zizou and All American.

Irish Lights goes into the 1200m feature the most inexperienced two-year-old in the field having had just the one run and will be trying to emulate Redoute's Choice who had had only one start before winning the 1999 Blue Diamond.

The Fastnet Rock filly jumped awkwardly and came from last to run 2-1/2 lengths second to Rostova in the Blue Diamond Preview (1100m) for fillies at Caulfield on January 26.

"Her first run was full of merit after missing the start behind the top filly Rostova," Hayes said.

"I gave her a gallop about 12 days after which was probably as good a piece of work as I could see and I felt she was there.

"Running in the Prelude I think she would have given Rostova a good race but might have left it on the track, so I've elected to take her in fresh."

Hayes has put winkers on Irish Lights in an effort to get further improvement out of her on Saturday.

"I thought missing the start cost her a length and we need to find another length and I reckon that might have found it."

Hayes has put blinkers on stablemate Quick Blush.

"She's won a couple of races doing a few things wrong and she really does look a blinker horse," he said.

"She's improved from her first run. I had her underdone first up, but Rostova has clearly had the wood on her and it might be too much to ask her to turn it around on Saturday."

Hayes said the outside barrier in the 13-horse field had lessened his confidence in Bawaardi.

"Until he drew that wide barrier I thought he was probably the stable elect," he said.

"He arguably should be undefeated. He ran (third) in a very competitive race on Cox Plate Day and in two more strides he would have won.

"His win at Ballarat was terrific and his work since has been outstanding."

Irish Lights will be ridden by Craig Williams, Bawaardi by Brad Rawiller and Quick Blush by Glen Boss.

Dwayne Dunn, who shares the jockeys' record of four Blue Diamond wins with Roy Higgins, will be trying to keep his unbeaten record in the race intact aboard the Lee Freedman-trained second string Maka Ena, while Kerrin McEvoy will pilot the stable's fancy Come Hither who will be racing in blinkers for the first time.

The Steve Richards-trained Rostova ($2.60 favourite with TAB Sportsbet fixed odds) and the Michael, Wayne and John Hawkes-trained Real Saga ($3.20) continue to dominate the betting.

Come Hither is a steady third pick at $10 with Irish Lights at $17 and Reward For Effort at $17.