Diamond Creek Farm Classic fame thrower

The eleventh running of the Diamond Creek Farm Two Year Old Classic will be held at Ascot Park on Sunday.

The race which now has Group One status, has been the launching pad for some of the country’s star pacers.

Winners Lazarus (2015) and Don’t Stop Dreaming (2022) have gone on to be super stars of their generation. But looking beyond the list of winners, the race has produced a long list of talented pacers.

Chicago Bull ($2,417,890), Cantfindabettorman ($453,544), Franco Indie ($240,277) and Republican Party ($771,840) all used the Diamond Creek Farm to get their lucrative careers underway.

From last years edition won by Rubira, four of the other runners – Always Dreaming, Got The Chocolates, Bettors Anvil and Marketplace have now collectively won over $800,000.

The timing of the Classic also suits most juveniles as trainers can get a line on where their two year old sits in the current crop, then give them a short break before targeting some of the big races in the second half of the season.

Those that wish to race into May and June have the Welcome and Sapling Stakes as possible targets.

by Bruce Stewart, for Harnesslink