David Hayes has tried to win the Blue Diamond Stakes from most angles.

In 2006 the Hayes-trained Miss Finland looked to be the right horse at the right time, but she got run over by $17 stablemate Nadeem.

The following year Sleek Chassis looked to be a second-tier contender only to win clearly.

And in 2008 Reaan beat his better-fancied stablemate All American.

It has led the seven-time premier trainer to prefer his horses not to be among the better-fancied runners in Victoria's richest juvenile race.

"The favourites looked good in the year Reaan won it," Hayes said.

"And the year Nadeem won it they looked pretty strong too."

Hayes has respect for this year's favourites, Guelph and Miracles Of Life, but not enough to be despondent about the prospects of his three runners.

"I like my horses being 20-1 chances going into this race," he said.

Bookmakers have granted Hayes that wish.

The best-fancied of his trio is Gregers, a filly who came into Diamond calculations with a win at Moonee Valley at her only start.

She is a $21 chance with the colts Fast `N' Rocking at $34 and I Am Titanium at $101.

But the prices don't daunt Hayes.

"One of my theories is that on these hard tracks at this time of the year they can't put their best run up every time because it hurts," he said.

"So I like them to have plenty of time between runs going into the Diamond, or to not have much luck in the lead-ups."

All three fit the Hayes' philosophy.

"Fast `n Rocking had a very easy run a few weeks ago by mistake. He never got a go at them," he said.

"Gregers had three weeks between runs and I Am Titanium ran really well after getting caught on the inside last time. He needs a bit of galloping room and he's got the blinkers he needs."

Another Hayes theory is directed against the high-speed runners near the top of the market who have shone in the traditional Diamond lead-ups.

"The Preludes are often speed dominated races," he said.

"In the grand finals everything changes in the last 100 metres and often it's the big boy out the back coming home who gets up."

And he believes he's got a couple who might do just that.