Darling Diamond (AUS)
3 f Pierro – Diamond Drille by Al Maher
O: Lightning Thoroughbreds
B: Lightning Thoroughbreds
T: Mark Newnham
W: Sky Racing Active Plate, 1400m, September 30, Kensington
Darling Diamond could be the latest jewel in the Pierro (Lonhro) crown for owner-breeder Greg Kolivos, who saw this daughter of the champion racehorse surge clear for a powerful win on the Kensington track at Randwick on Wednesday to break her maiden status.
In a race possessing some regally bred contenders, it was Darling Diamond, who is out of Queen Of The Turf Stakes (Gr 1, 1600m) winner Diamond Drille (Al Maher) and from the family of I Am Invincible (Invincible Spirit), who got the better of Yulong’s $400,000 yearling purchase So Far Away (Snitzel), who is out of Listed winner Tara From The Cape (Leroidesanimaux).
From barrier nine of ten, Robbie Dolan sent Darling Diamond forward and, after some encouragement, settled outside the leader Seleque (Deep Field). After travelling smoothly in the middle stages, the filly kicked clear at the 300-metre mark to win impressively by two lengths, going away from second place So Far Away, with Hot Spring Cold (Written Tycoon) in third.
Kolivos, who owned and raced Pierro in his blue and red lightning bolt colours, bred and sold multiple Group 1 winner Shadow Hero (Pierro) to Mark Newnham for $260,000 out of the 2016 Inglis Classic Yearling Sale and the pair teamed up on this occasion to keep the filly under Kolivos’s Lightning Thoroughbreds banner.
Darling Diamond was having her third start, having finished third at Gosford over 1200 metres and fourth last time out at Newcastle over 1400 metres where she showed signs of her untapped ability, but the three-year-old came of age here, with the filly looking suited to a further step up in trip.
For Newnham, he has eyes on much higher targets for the talented filly as he looks for her to sparkle on Everest Day in the Reginald Allen Stakes (Listed, 1400m).
“It was pleasing to get a win with her for the Kolivos family,” the trainer said. “She is a lovely well-bred filly who has kept improving the whole prep and will give her a little chance in the Reginald Allen in a couple of weeks.
“She showed versatility today, she got on pace and relaxed well so for her to go on and win by two lengths is the start of a promising career. I think she will keep getting better and the autumn will be more her time, but a little Listed win before that would be much appreciated,” he said.
Darling Diamond is the first to race of two foals of racing age for Diamond Drille, who also won at Group 3 level and was placed in the Coolmore Classic (Gr 1, 1500m) during her on-track career. She has a two-year-old colt by I Am Invincible (Invincible Spirit) named Diamond Drummer, who is in the hands of the same connections having passed in for $110,000 at this year’s Inglis Easter Yearling Sale, while she has a filly foal by Pierro (Lonhro) born last year. She was not served in 2019.