Hot Diamond (3f Hussonet – Made Of Diamonds) has returned to the winner's stall in convincing fashion, racing away to score in the Christmas Twilight F&M 0-75 Handicap over 1200m at Morphettville today.
A winner on debut, Hot Diamond has had her "hoof on the 'till" her entire career, and today's win was just reward for her consistency.
Having been right in the finish at her first three runs of this preparation, the filly was well supported on track and started a warm $3.20 favourite.
From the time the gates opened, leading rider Paul Gatt was able to settle Hot Diamond in the middle of the field, and as they scorched along in front, headed by the heavily backed Notforgiven, it was apparent a long way from home that Hot Diamond would be in the finish.
Once the runners had turned for home, and with Gatt yet to ask for a real effort, Hot Diamond had swept around the field, and raced to the lead.
With a cracking speed set, the race was ready-made for a swooper and whilst all eyes were scouring the back-markers to see who was going to raise a challenge, Hot Diamond had raced away and the race was over.
Today's win was Hot Diamond's second from 12 starts, amassing a tick over $61,000 in stakes, and was all the more meritorious considering today's assignment was her first against older mares.
With the current crop of three-year-old's in Adelaide being of a very good standard, the decision by Minervini to shift Hot Diamond away from her own age group and tackle the older horses, turned out to be a very wise move.
Congratulations to the owners Shane Agelis, Mitchell Boscence, Gianni Dalzotto, Brian & Jo Feetham, Pat Fuoco, Marcus Hodge, Joel Lewis, Anthony Mezzini, Michelle Minervini, Liz & Pat Noone, John & Margaret Ray, Tim Rendell and Shaun Walker.
Whilst it may be a touch too late to join this group of owners, it is by no means too late to join the Hot Diamond family. Click on the "Horses Available" page on the Trackside Racing website and check out the stunning half-sister to Hot Diamond, by Golden Slipper winner Flying Spur.
When your father is a Champion sire, your mother is a stakes-winner, and your big sister Hot Diamond is running around winning metropolitan races, half the work is already done!
Daniel Borg
Trackside Media