Danny O'Brien is banking on a gear change and race experience to help propel two-year-old Shamus Award into Blue Diamond calculations at Caulfield on Saturday.

O'Brien has Shamus Award set to return in the Listed Chairman's Stakes (1100m) with the colt's performance to determine whether he heads to the Group One Blue Diamond at Caulfield on February 23.

The trainer won the Blue Diamond with Star Witness three years ago.

Shamus Award takes valuable experience into the Chairman's Stakes courtesy of two spring minor placings in the Inglis Banner and Maribyrnong Plate.

"He's a lovely colt but was still pretty raw to it all then," O'Brien said.

"We've taken the blinkers off him because he wanted to charge a bit in those two runs and hence he didn't finish it off as well as we would have liked.

"With the blinkers off he'll relax a lot better and he'll hit the line a lot better."

Debut winner Metastasio the $2.50 favourite with Shamus Award a $9 chance.

Shamus Award was one of eight Chairman's Stakes entries paid up for the Blue Diamond at the third declaration stage this week.

"He needs to win or run second tomorrow to be going that way but we're certainly very happy with him and expecting him to run really well," O'Brien said.

David Hayes still has 10 youngsters among the 49 nominated for the Blue Diamond and two of them - I Am Titanium and The Yowie - take their place on Saturday.

"Most of the ten will be running in the next couple of weeks," Hayes said.

I Am Titanium was a close second on debut at Caulfield at the start of December while The Yowie has raced twice including a last start third to Metastasio.

"I Am Titanium was great first-up but just didn't quite get it right," Hayes said.

"I think he's well above average but will be better at 1400 metres.

"The Yowie just needs to find a length."

O'Brien, meanwhile, has The New Boy and Spending also running at Caulfield, with three-year-old Spending out to back up her impressive debut win over 1000m at Flemington last month.

She is favourite for the Toorak Toff At Rosemont Stud Handicap.

"I think 1400 metres will suit her a lot better tomorrow," O'Brien said.

"The tempo will be a bit kinder, she'll travel a lot better and I can see no reason why she won't go on with what she showed in her first start."