La Diem belied her odds at Ellerslie on Saturday when taking out the MyRacehorse 1600, and now stakes targets are in the offing for the regally bred filly.
By Wootton Bassett, La Diem is out of Group One winner La Bella Diosa, and she had won one of her five prior starts for trainer Stephen Marsh prior to her Easter Weekend assignment.
In a competitive line-up, La Diem drifted in the market to a 19-1 outsider. Jockey Joe Doyle was positive aboard her from the jump, pushing her forward from her outside barrier to sit outside pacemaker Burnerphone.
The pair continued their duel up the home straight and they were soon joined by Navy Ensign, and while the pressure told on Burnerphone, La Diem continued her effort to hold off Navy Ensign to win by a long head, with a further short neck back to Celtic Tycoon in third.
“She probably could have made it look a bit easier, she is a bit behind the bridle, a bit lackadaisical, but she was tough when it mattered and she looks very valuable now,” Doyle said.
“When I went to the well she was there and she got us up where we needed to be. I would imagine they will have a crack at a bit of stakes money if they can and she will be a lovely filly next year.”
The Gr.3 Trelawney Stud Championship Stakes (2100m) at Ellerslie in a fortnight now looms as an option, but Marsh said he will wait to see how his filly pulls up from Saturday’s run before pulling the trigger on that plan.
“Last start she got back on a slow speed and I thought today it didn’t look like there was a lot of ideal speed, so she sat outside the leader,” Marsh said.
“It was a really good field and she has defied them, they have all had their chance and she was very good.
“There is a lot more instore for a horse like this. I have got the Champions Stakes at the back of my mind, and always have, but we will see how she comes through this.
“She is tough, she is beautifully bred being out of a Group One winner in La Bella Diosa, a 1000 Guineas winner, and she just keeps stepping up.
“She will improve again with blinkers on at some stage. We may give her one more and then put her aside, but with that breeding it would be nice to get a bit of black-type.”
Meanwhile, Marsh was pleased with stablemate Glance’s performance in the race, who finished a luckless fourth behind the leaders, and the Cambridge horseman believes the daughter of Savabeel has a bright future instore.
“I thought she went super but things didn’t quite go right,” he said. “She is a very good filly and I think she will go right through the grades and will potentially be a topliner in time.” – LOVERACING.NZ News Desk
