Diamond Cup
Stamina should be the key for the 2423m Diamond Cup, which carries a nice purse as the first leg of the Triple Crown for four year olds. Secret Emperor was a convincing winner of the Grand Prix de Paris at short odds, and based on that outcome is expected to take the honours. Australia has run a decent heat – showing pace before being outrun late by Secret Emperor.
Troublemaker’s Skip Away ran a very decent second in the heat and caught the eye. The daughter of Dodgers Here I Go only has to run to her best form to feature in the shake up. Karaka Breeders have an excellent past record in long and epic cups and he hits the long road with Furiosa. Cyrus Banas has been aboard the daughter of Not Too Soon’s hardknocking recent outings and Yukiko Bila steps into the breach this weekend. While she is yet to register stakes success, Furiosa has been close enough to suggest she is a massive runner if enjoying and adapting to conditions.
This could be a big race for Desert Wind Stables as her four old runner Seaside Scandal, looks to be one of the biggest dangers to Secret Emperor. This superbly talented galloper may have run one too many seconds for her connections’ liking but ran a gutsy chaser in the Grand Prix de Paris in her last final and she should relish the ground.
Clancy Scott found form last time when third. This will be a bigger mountain to climb! Hengroen faces a tough task in this company, Shakia Mendes rides her again from a wide draw and must be included if maintaining her improvement.
| # | Form | Horse | Stable | Jockey | Final Odds |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2,1,1,1,1 | Secret Emperor | Dixon Racing | Pierre Strydom | N/A |
| 2 | 4,12,2 | Australia | Rattlin’Bones Stud | Black Bones | N/A |
| 3 | 1,5,1,4,2 | Skip Away | Troublemaker’s | Shari Mealor | N/A |
| 4 | 2,3,1,2,1 | Furiosa | Karaka Breeders | Yukiko Bila | N/A |
| 5 | 22,11,11,13,3 | Colada Panther | Empty Wallet Stables | Corrie Piccillo | N/A |
| 6 | 1,2,9,3 | Clancy Scott | swindin | Christoper Hores | N/A |
| 7 | 3,2,2,3,1 | Seaside Scandal | Desert Wind Stables | !Norine Whelihan! | N/A |
| 8 | 1,1,5 | Hengroen | Chaotic Neutral | Shakia Mendes | N/A |
| 9 | 3,2,6,12,6 | Varsity | Valkorum | Lavonne Kaylo | N/A |
Pre-race comments from:
Rattlin’Bones Stud – “Don’t think in hell of a chance to win my stamina not good enough just in for experience.”
Karaka Breeders – “Furiosa had a solitary gallop in Sunday’s heat to qualify. She’s low in epic xp but the needs space style can run a cheeky race once in awhile…”
Dixon Racing– “Emperor came through the heat well, hoping he’s up to he task. Several very serious challengers that will make life tough over the epic trip and he will need to be at his best to hold them off. Good luck to all, looking forward to it!”
Valkorum – “There are some very nice horses in this race and I am comfortable with my position of making up the numbers. This is more about seeing how my horse goes with a proper jockey in the saddle.”
Chaotic Neutral – “Secret Emperor, Australia and Seaside Scandal will be the ponies to beat in this one.
We’ll see if Hengroen can get close enough to tease one of them.”