Quality field lines up in Diamond Creek

A field of seven quality harness racing youngsters will line up on Sunday at Ascot Park for the $100,000 Group One Diamond Creek Farm Two Year Old Classic.

The Steven Reid colt Jumal (Downbytheseaside) is expected to dominate the betting.

Blacklaz (Lazarus), trained by Mark and Nathan Purdon wasn’t in the original nominations but the stable decided to bring him south when nominations were extended for the two year old feature.

“He was just awful last start. He’s far better than what he went. We pulled a blood test and it didn’t read all that bad. We’ve put some sliding blinds on for Sunday,” Nathan said.

Blacklaz draws barrier one.

“I’d like to think that he could at least hold the trail depending on what Steven’s horse does. I think Steven’s horse has got the measure of them but he should be a good as everything else.”

Treacherous Dreams (Captaintreacherous) at barrier two and Freeze Frame (Bettor’s Delight) at barrier seven, represent Cran and Chrissie Dalgety’s stable.

Treacherous Dreams faded late at his last start at Winton but his run before that at Addington was very good.

“He’s probably not the star horse in that field. We left him down there and he will be a percentage better, but he’ll need to be. It’s a Group One race so we’re going to have a shot,” Dalgety said.

Freeze Frame was a distant second behind Jamal at his last start and was also second in the Kindergarten Stakes last month. He has a wide draw to contend with.

“He just lacks a wee bit of speed at the moment but he’ll get better. He’s a typical Bettor’s Delight. He still thinks it’s a bit of a joke rather than being a racehorse at the moment. If he wakes up, he’ll be real competitive. I’m sure Jumal will be the hotpot but someone has to run second.”

Three facts about the Diamond Creek Farm Two Year Old Classic

• Of the ten Diamond Creek Farm Two Year Old Classics run, Mark Purdon in a variety of training partnerships has won the race six times.
• The race, Southland and New Zealand record of 2-39.6 is held by 2021 winner You’re So Fine trained by Brett Gray.
• In its 10 year history this race has grown from $22,000 to $100,000 and this year will be the second time it’s run as a Group One feature.

by Bruce Stewart, for Harnesslink