The Diamond One earned herself a slice of New Zealand racing history on her home track on Saturday when she completed a magical hat-trick of victories in the Gr.3 White Robe Lodge Handicap.
While the six-year-old is not the only three-time winner of the event, she is the first to complete the feat in successive years.
The Diamond One was prepared for her first win by Steve Anderton, who tragically passed away in the lead up to last year’s event and his wife Claire took over the training of the mare.
She had been happy with the mare’s two lead-up outings for a resuming fifth and a second in an open sprint at Gore.Anderton said The Diamond One was ready for the step up to 1600 metres on Saturday and so it proved, but only just. She enjoyed an economical run behind the pace and was into the clear at the top of the straight.
“She flew the gates and I was told to take a sit and give her the nicest trip possible,” rider Daniel Bothamley said.“I got the run when I needed it although I thought I may have gone a fraction too early, but she got there. I could hear the other horse coming, but I didn’t know what it was.”
The Diamond One had half a head to spare on the fast-finishing Tommy Tucker with the front-runner Illumination boxing on gamely for third.
