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Platinum Diamond chasing another black-type success at Tauranga

Three-year-old filly Platinum Diamond (Hello Youzmain) will return to weight-for-age company on Saturday when she contests the Tauranga Classic (Listed, 1400m), with heavy conditions expected to suit the Lisa Latta-trained filly. Winner of three consecutive stakes races on rain-affected tracks earlier this season, Platinum Diamond looks set to encounter similar conditions, with Tauranga rated a Heavy 10 on Friday and further rain forecast. The filly has already had two weight-for-age assignments against older horses. She impressed first-up with a fast-finishing third in the Rotorua Stakes (Gr 3, 1400m), closing strongly on Churchillian (Churchill) after settling well back. “She just got a bit far out of her ground that day,” Latta said. Her next start in the AGC Training Stakes (Listed, 1600m) at Wanganui was less successful after making an early move from the 800 metres before weakening late into seventh. “He asked her for an effort quite a way out and she certainly got there easy and came to the end of it in the last bit,” Latta said. “It is hard to know whether it was the mile or it was too big of an effort.” Latta has freshened the filly since that run and expects the return to 1400 metres to suit. Matthew Cameron will ride from barrier eight. “She had a bit of a freshen-up after the mile at Wanganui to bring her back to the 1400m,” Latta said. Platinum Diamond heads the TAB market ahead of Churchillian and Tristar (Exceedance), with another winter black-type target already under consideration. “There is the Opunake Cup (Listed, 1400m), so we will probably head there after this,” Latta said.

Strobe Light chasing hat-trick at Wingatui

Progressive gelding Strobe Light (Highly Recommended) will bid for a third win from his past four starts when he lines up in Sunday’s Otago Painting Solutions (1600m) at Wingatui. The Amber Hoffman-trained five-year-old has continued to improve since making his debut in March, breaking through at Wingatui in April before returning to the Dunedin track last month to record another impressive mile victory. “He has been a bit of a surprise package. He doesn’t really show a lot at home, but he brings his A-game on raceday,” Hoffman said. “His last victory was quite impressive because he has never really shown a turn of foot, but he showed a bit of speed and a fair bit of maturity.” Encouraged by his recent form, Hoffman has elected to step Strobe Light into rating 80 company, despite the outside barrier. “It is not an overly strong rating 80, so I think he will acquit himself quite well,” she said. “It is not an overly big field, and he jumps out quite nicely, so he should be midfield.” Hoffman also expects competitive performances from Empress Suiko (U S Navy Flag) and Shamel Express (Shamexpress), who both filled placings at their latest starts. “Empress Suiko tries hard, she just always finds one or two better on the day. I think she will go a good race as long as she handles the heavy 10,” Hoffman said. “Shamel Express went really well last start. His work was really good this week, so hopefully if he can get through that heavy 10, he will run another nice race.” The stable will also be represented by Wild Jakkal (Jakkalberry) in the Ray Kean (2200m), Secret Wish (Mongolian Khan) in the same event, and Beaujolais (Burgundy) in the Entain/NZB Insurance Pearl Series (1200m).