Another lucrative pay day looms for Diamond Earth at Rosehill when the Anthony Cummings trained filly attacks the $250,000 Inglis Classic.
Halfway through the season, Diamond Earth is the poster girl for the William Inglis Classic sale with two wins in Inglis sponsored races including her last start victory over Saturday’s Rosehill winner De Shamekh.
A $60,000 yearling, Diamond Earth has won more than $326,000 and Cummings sees no reason why she can’t keep the momentum going on Saturday.
After finishing unplaced in the Debutants Stakes at Caulfield on October 12, Diamond Earth came out 10 days later to win an Inglis race at the same track.
Cummings brought her back to Sydney and she led all the way on December 17 to pick up another $150,000 cheque in the Inglis Nursery at Warwick Farm.
The Inglis Classic (1200m) will be her first start beyond 1000 metres but Cummings believes that is well within her range.
“She’s in good shape going into the race,” Cummings said.
“I’m confident she can run a strong 1200 metres and she doesn’t have to lead like she did at Warwick Farm.”
Peter Robl steered Diamond Earth over from the outside gate on that occasion and will be the pilot again on Saturday.
There were 17 entries taken for Saturday’s race with just Diamond Earth, Classical Melody and Risky Blonde with wins to their names.
Unfortunately for Victorian trainer Dean Binaisse who entered Romanarkus and Stradabird, the two are ineligible because they have not had an official barrier trial as required under the rules in NSW.
After realising his error, Binaisse, whose biggest win so far has been with Carnero in the 2008 Inglis Premier in Melbourne, will now look for races in Melbourne for the pair who have gained barrier certificates from jumpouts which are all that is needed in Victoria.
Classical Melody, trained at Mudgee by Brett Thompson, won at Orange on January 7 while the David Payne-trained Risky Blonde was a Gosford winner on December 29.
The Greg Hickman trained Taxmeifyoucan is scheduled to run in a qualifying barrier trial at Rosehill on Tuesday.
Diamond Earth is by the most famous of Classic sale graduates Choisir who cost $55,000 and won the 2002 Classic race.
He later went on to international success at Royal Ascot and was sold to Coolmore Stud for more than $20 million.
AAP TURF
