The toll of a heavy workload during her two-year-old season has done nothing to diminish the talent of Diamond Earth, winner of the Denise’s Joy Stakes at Scone on Saturday.
Diamond Earth raced nine times during her debut term and after an early-season hiccup in 2012-2013, she is on course for a Brisbane campaign after adding the Listed race to a record that now includes four wins and more than $600,000 in stakes.
Diamond Earth - Photo by Steve Hart
“She is one of the more durable horses I’ve had to deal with,” trainer Anthony Cummings said.
“She did lose her way for a bit but she has stood up really well this time in.
“Now she is more responsive to the rider whereas before she wanted to get out and get rolling.”
Ridden with cover by Peter Robl, Diamond Earth ($6.50) defeated Omniscient (($11) by a length with She’s A Stalker ($8) a half head away third.
“Every time you ride her she gives you one hundred per cent,” Robl said. “You can’t not love her.”
Former leading Sydney trainer Neville Begg celebrated Scone carnival success as an owner when Tweet, also ridden by Robl, came with late run to win the Woodlands Stakes.
Tweet broke her maiden status, courtesy of a perfectly timed ride which helped the filly overhaul Mineko in the Listed race for two-year-old fillies.
“We thought the big track with the long run in would give her the chance to run home and that’s the way it worked out,” Begg said.
Tweet is trained by Begg’s son Grahame who was in Brisbane to saddle up top mare Secret Admirer for possibly the final time in the Doomben Cup.
“Grahame picked this race out for after she was run off her legs at Wyong,” Begg snr said.
Tweet, specked from $18 to $15, saved ground through the middle of the field before easing to the outside to overhaul Mineko ($4.40) by a half length with another length to the favourite Northern Glory ($3.50) in the minor placing.
“She is starting to put it all together and I think she will be a nice filly in six months’ time,” Robl said.
