Tough Diademe takes Westbury Classic

6 March 2013

A tough front-running performance saw Diademe (NZ) (Savabeel) land Group Three success in the Westbury Classic at Ellerslie on Wednesday.

Ridden by Opie Bosson, the Murray Baker and Andrew Forsman-trained mare crossed the line 1 1/4 lengths clear of class mare Final Touch (NZ) (Kashani) with Fleur de Lune (NZ) (Stravinsky)taking third prize.

“The plan was to sit on the pace but no one wanted to lead so I went to the front,” said Bosson. “She travelled beautifully and was still on the bit turning for home, when I gave her a squeeze she really gave me a lot.

“She is a class mare and I knew what she had. She is definitely a Group One horse, what she did in just one preparation last year was huge.”

Bred by Waikato Stud, Diademe (NZ) completed her first season of racing with three wins and four placing from seven starts and was having her first start this preparation on Wednesday.

She is set to be given her chance at Group One success shortly. Baker has nominated the four-year-old for the Gr.1 Doncaster Mile in April but was cautious about confirming a start in the feature Australian race, just yet.

“She is still in the Doncaster, but she would have to run well in the next couple to think about that,” he said.

“The Group One Breeders’ Stakes at Te Aroha (April 6th) looks to be a good option for her, she is just a very strong wilful horse and she likes to be there.

“I wouldn’t like to be married to her because she is one tough cookie.”

Ardrossan’s Group 1-placed darling wins A$300,000 Gr.2 HKJC World Pool Wakeful Stakes

Second and fourth in 1600m Group 1 races in her two previous starts since being purchased privately by OTI Racing and stepping out in Australia under Chris Waller’s racing banner, De Armas (Ardrossan) stepped up in distance at Flemington on Saturday and opened her Australian account in style in the A$300,000 Gr.2 HKJC World Pool Wakeful Stakes (2000m) on Derby Day.

30 October 2026

The Corner with Garry Chittick

The writing of my Corner started many years ago, motivated by an irritation that I felt needed scratching. It was never my intention to make my commentary regular; neither did I intend to reinvent the direction of racing administration. It is both disappointing and ironical that what should be a simple, straightforward business provides a regular need for comment.