feaTrainer David Pfieffer is replicating the formula he used with Oh Diamond Lil in the spring as bids to deliver the bonny mare a second stakes success in the Hawkesbury Crown.
The five-year-old led throughout to win the Group 3 Tibbie Stakes (1400m) at Newcastle first-up in September and Pfieffer is hoping she can repeat the dose when she resumes over a similar journey at Hawkesbury on Saturday.
“She looks good, and her first-up record is quite good,” Pfieffer said.
“She won first-up at Scone last year, and when she won the Tibbie at Newcastle she was first-up.
“I think she is well placed.”
A daughter of So You Think, Oh Diamond Lil has been beautifully managed by Pfieffer to win seven of her 17 starts.
Along with her stakes victory at Newcastle, she finished less than three lengths from multiple Group 1 winner Stefi Magnetica in The Invitation (1400m) at Randwick in October, and fourth to Verona Rose in the Inglis Bracelet (1600m) at Flemington a month later.
Pfieffer is confident she has returned to work in at least the same order and is hopeful she can further embellish her CV, starting at Hawkesbury.
The Dark Jewel Classic (1400m) at Scone on May 16 has been pencilled in for her second-up assignment, ahead of a winter carnival campaign in Queensland which could include the Magic Millions National Classic (1600m) at Eagle Farm on June 6.
“She’s got a lovely string of races coming up for her,” Pfieffer said.
The Warwick Farm trainer has been doing a wonderful job with his small team, producing 11 winners and 16 placegetters from his past 50 starters, including debutant Call Me Zeus, an impressive victor at Kembla Grange on Wednesday.
Of his past 20 runners, five have won, and another eight have collected a minor prize.
“Everything is racing well. If they’re not winning, they’re running placings,” Pfieffer said.
“Probably too many seconds for my liking lately.
“But as long as they’re racing well, running up to their mark and winning prizemoney, they’re keeping their owners happy.”
Oh Diamond Lil heads betting on the Hawkesbury Crown (1300m) as a $3.60 favourite, ahead of Surfin’ Bird ($4.60), who makes her NSW debut after winning four of her six starts in Victoria, and Country Championships Final victor Chidiac ($5).
