Diamond Thunder has continued trainer Mark Newnham’s run of carnival success this spring with a first-up victory in the Brian Crowley Stakes at Randwick.
Newnham has won the Gloaming and Spring Champion Stakes with Victoria Derby favourite Shadow Hero and landed a Moonee Valley win on Friday’s night’s Manikato Stakes program with Greysful Glamour.
However, Diamond Thunder won’t be seen again over the carnival and will instead be targeted towards the Magic Millions Trophy next year after picking up his second black-type win in the Listed Brian Crowley Stakes (1200m) on Saturday.
“He’s come back in good shape. He had a good break after Queensland in the winter and I wanted to give him this run then a bit of a freshen up to the Magic Millions in January,” Newnham said.
Ridden by Josh Parr, Diamond Thunder ($3.20) jumped quickly before surrendering the lead to eventual runner-up Cardiff ($9).
He was momentarily put off balance when favourite Faretti shouldered out at the top of the straight but regained his composure to pull away for a three-quarters of a length win over Cardiff with Hulk ($20) a long neck away third.
Parr said Diamond Thunder did a good job to recover from his bump with Faretti.
“It often takes the wind out of a horse then you’re asking for a full effort, but today I was able to go another hundred metres before asking for an effort and I think that was the difference in that situation costing him the race or not costing him the race,” Parr said.
“We’ve had a good opinion of him for a long time and his form backs that up.
“The future looks bright for him.”
