Sweet stayer

Sweet Diamond (Sweet Lou) showed her excellent staying qualities in the Nevele R/Macca Lodge Southern Oaks heat at the Oamaru Harness Racing meeting today (Mar. 8).

The team Telfer/Hayden Cullen trained filly sat parked for most of the trip but knowing he had a great staying filly on the end of his reins, driver Jonny Cox showed no desire to press for the front.

Cox put the pressure on leader Mystify Me (Art Major) before the field turned for home and Sweet Diamond similarly outstayed her eight rivals.

“She’s raced some of the best fillies in the country and didn’t disgrace herself. Although we were parked, we didn’t put any pressure on the leaders. She relaxed nicely in the breeze. When I asked her to go at the 500 she really knuckled down and did it pretty nicely in the end,” Cox said.

The winning time of 2-23.7 was a new track record for three year old fillies for the 2000 metre mobile. The previous record of 2-25.6 was recorded by Donegal Rundlescreek in 2016. The last 800 metres was run in 56.2.

“There’s probably no Millwood Nike or the likes going to race in this series and I think she’ll be one of the nicer ones in the final.”

SWEET DIAMOND REPLAY

The three year old was bred by owners Stonewall Stud and is out of Holmes Hanover mare Rhythmic Rose who’s also the dam of Our Rhythm N Blues, (Rock N Roll Heaven) the winner of eighteen races in Australia. She has also left Secret Desire (Real Desire) who’s won eight and Mach Time (Mach Three) who’s won twenty seven.

Heat three of the Southern Oaks will be run at Wyndham on Saturday week, while the Group Two Nevele R/Macca Lodge Southern Oaks Final will be contested at Diamonds Day on Sunday 23rd April at Ascot Park. The final is raced over 2700 metres which should suit Sweet Diamond. The Telfers won the race last year with Aardie’s Express (Always B Miki).

For complete race results, click here.

by Bruce Stewart, for Harnesslink