Dinkum Diamond

Dinkum Diamond acquitted himself really well for a three-year-old in the Listed Abernant Stakes at Newmarket last Thursday, especially given the way the race transpired. Keen enough early on over the six furlongs, the first time he had raced further than five, he raced in the middle of the pack, but Dane O’Neill had to manoeuvre around the weakening Doncaster Rover at around the halfway point. Even after that he could never find a way through to make a clear challenge until it was really just a little too late, but he stayed on really well up the hill to get close to the winner Genki, only just beaten a nostril by the bang in-form Iver Bridge Lad for second. He ended up challenging wide having raced close to the rail through the early part of the race, so his effort here can be marked up a fair bit.

Henry Candy’s Aussie Rules colt is not overly big at all, he was dwarfed by those around him at the finish here, but he has a really tenacious attitude. He was not put off by interference in the race here and not fazed when not initially finding a gap. Thought good enough to take his chance in the Group 1 Nunthorpe Stakes last year in receipt of the two-year-old allowance, he ran really well there to be seventh, beaten less than four lengths. He finished close up in two of the top two-year-old sprints after that, the Flying Childers at Doncaster and the Cornwallis at Ascot, and has certainly trained on on this evidence. In fact, he posted a career best here on Racing Post Ratings, and he stayed the sixth furlong really strongly. It can be difficult for three-year-old sprinters, but the good ones can make their mark, and Dinkum Diamond could be value against his elders in some of the good sprints later in the season. He is trained by a man who knows how to get the best out of his sprinters.

14th April 2011