I like a bet and when I do, I’m governed by form, barriers, jocks and fitness levels.
And if I see an omen in among all those things, I go a bit crazy.
I see one at Hawkesbury on Wednesday and so, baby, let’s bet up. I’ve already secured $4.20 and might go again despite his odds now being heavily supported into $2.40.
Here’s who…and why.
This week has been the celebration of St Patrick’s Day, right!
And, pretty much every holiday globally has a unique theme and colouring surrounding their festivities. Apart from their spiritual value, these celebratory events that come around once every year help us leave the routine of our everyday lives behind, and “feel the moment” with our loved ones….and beer in the case of St Pat’s Day.
With all that in mind, the colour green is synonymous with St Pats Day. So I’m on the 2YO colt, Dresden Green at Hawkesbury.
He cost a whopping $1.2million as yearling, purchased this time last year at the Inglis Easter Sale by Julian Blaxland of Blue Sky Bloodstock.
And because of his wonderful pedigree (Snitzel-Asscher) and his price tag, connections wanted his name to reflect something of immense value too.
Hence Dresden Green. So, what is this thing known as Dresden Green?
Well, despite great speculation which has surrounded the origins of the Dresden Green, it is believed to have come from the Kollur Mine in India. It’s a diamond, a rare diamond at that because it is green.
Even though it was cut prior to 1741, the quality of the diamond’s finish is very impressive, receiving a “very good” even by today’s rigid diamond grading standards. Another characteristic that impresses is the stone’s clarity. Despite its considerable thickness, it is fairly transparent, a very rare characteristic among diamonds.
The first mention of the stone is in the Inventory Book no.16 located in the Green Vaults of Dresden, Germany. It states that the gem was sold by a merchant named Delles to the King of Poland, Augustus III, during the 1741 Great Annual Easter Fair at Leipzig. And there we see another omen – Easter time. Remember, this colt was purchased at Easter time.
A year later the diamond was set as part of a badge fashioned for the Order of the Golden Fleece. In 1746, by King’s order, a new setting was created, this time incorporating numerous small colourless diamonds as well as another one of his famous diamonds, the Dresden White.
All of this diamond talk is a bit boring to some people, but fascinating to me. I’m a research, story-telling journo after all.
Anyway, finishing the story, this colt’s mother Asscher, is also named after a diamond – the Royal Asscher and it’s among the finest and most expensive diamonds in the world.
Diatribe, I know to many – but it just means to me, Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott’s imperially-bred colt named Dresden Green, down for race 3 at Hawkesbury – looks a good thing!
