Late-season black type is on the radar for Platinum Diamond after an impressive upset victory in Saturday’s Full Circle Appearance Medicine 2YO (1200m) at Wanganui.
Platinum Diamond was a late foal, born on the 4th of December in 2022, and has been patiently handled by her Awapuni trainer Lisa Latta. The Hello Youmzain filly’s first and only trial produced a second placing over 1000m at Foxton on April 15, followed by a fourth at Hawera on her raceday debut three weeks later.
Platinum Diamond was an overlooked $16 outsider for her second start on Saturday. The market was dominated by Gavin Sharrock’s last-start winners Spandeedo and Country Salon.
That pair seemed set to fight out the finish as they pulled well away from the field with 500m to run, but then Spandeedo veered to the outside around the home bend and carried Country Salon out with him.
Suddenly the $35,000 race was thrown wide open, and Platinum Diamond was able to seize the opportunity. Showing professionalism and a touch of class, she quickened through along the inside of the wayward Spandeedo.
Jockey Bruno Queiroz drove Platinum Diamond to the front in the final 100m. She kicked away to win by three-quarters of a length from a luckless Country Salon. Spandeedo crossed the line another length away in third.
Latta is now considering giving the fast-improving filly a shot at the Listed Castletown Stakes (1200m) on the Matariki Raceday at Otaki on June 20.
“We’ve just taken this filly along quietly, being such a late foal,” Latta said. “She showed a fair bit at the trials, and then her debut run at Hawera was good. She was impressive today and we may look at the Castletown now, but we’ll just see how she pulls up.”
Platinum Diamond was bred by Beaufort Downs and comes from Cambridge Stud shuttle stallion Hello Youmzain’s first southern hemisphere crop. The filly’s dam, the winning Thorn Park mare Spritz, descends from the family of Group One performers Corsage and Seamist.
Beaufort Downs offered Platinum Diamond in Book 2 of Karaka 2024, where Latta bought her for $90,000.
Platinum Diamond became the fourth winner in New Zealand this season for Hello Youmzain, whose total progeny earnings in this country now stand at $217,385. His biggest earner is the Listed Champagne Stakes (1200m) winner Lucy In The Sky with $77,250.
Hello Youmzain sits in second place on the first-season sires’ premiership and is gaining ground on Lucky Vega – sire of Karaka Millions 2YO (1200m) runner-up Vega For Luck – who has amassed $235,700. – LOVERACING.NZ News Desk.
