The Mark Newnham stable has been in hot form of late and claimed another Black Type success at Randwick on Saturday when talented sprinter Diamond Thunder upstaged Magic Millions sale-topper Faretti to win the Listed ATC Sir Brian Crowley Stakes (1200m).
$2million I Am Invincible colt Faretti was all the rage, but at the winning post Diamond Thunder showed his class to win by three-quarters of a length at his first run back from a spell with Faretti a disappointing fourth.
A stakes-winner in Brisbane at his last run before spelling, Diamond Thunder beat subsequent stakes-winner California Zimbol on that occasion and always looked to have a form and class edge on his rivals for this assignment.
"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.
A $135,000 Magic Millions Book 2 purchase for PL Bloodstock from the Oaklands Stud draft, Diamond Thunder is all racehorse and has the impressive record of four wins and a third from six starts with prizemoney in excess of $75,000.
One of 10 stakes-winners by Darley shuttler Dawn Approach (IRE), Diamond Thunder is the first foal of well related Lonhro mare Kwinana, who is closely related to Group III winner Trim (dam of current Group III winner Manicure) and also Stubborn, the dam of Group I VRC Makybe Diva Stakes winner Gatting.
A $42,000 purchase from the Darley draft at the Inglis August Thoroughbred Sale as a tried horse in 2014, Kwinana lost a yearling colt by Hallowed Crown and has foaled this spring producing a colt by Astern.
Dawn Approach shuttled to Darley Australia for five seasons, but limited interest in the son of New Approach saw him remain in the Northern Hemisphere this year.
