The Gai Waterhouse-trained Diamond Drille has caused a major surprise with her win in the $1 million Queen Of The Turf Stakes at Randwick.
Coming from midfield for jockey Tommy Berry, Diamond Drille did best in a three-way finish to claim her first Group One victory.
She started at $41 in edging out Gypsy Diamond ($8) with Red Tracer ($4.80) taking the minor placing in front of Streama.
“I think everyone underestimated her, just have a look at her price today,” Waterhouse said.
“When everyone wanted to go hustle bustle up front, Tommy just balanced her up beautifully.”
Wearing a blue ribbon in honour of his twin brother Nathan who died on April 3 from complications associated with NORSE syndrome, Berry timed his run to perfection.
Diamond Drille joined the leaders at the 200m before going home too well for Gypsy Diamond who hugged the rails.
The disappointment of the race was the heavily backed Catkins who missed the placings after being given a dream run.
Race 5 – 2:30PM CELLARBRATIONS QUEEN OF THE TURF STAKES (1600 METRES) |
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Of $1,000,000.1st $600,000, 2nd $200,000, 3rd $100,000, 4th $50,000, 5th $20,000, 6th $10,000, 7th $10,000, 8th $10,000 GROUP 1 Standard Weight for Age, Three-Years-Old and Upwards, Fillies and Mares, Apprentices cannot claim.Track Condition: Slow 6 Time: 1:35.85 Last 600m: 0:36.66 INTERIM RESULTS |
Finish | No. | Horse | Trainer | Jockey | Margin | Bar. | Weight | Penalty | Starting Price | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | 7 | DIAMOND DRILLE | Gai Waterhouse | Tommy Berry | 2 | 57kg | $41 | |||
2 | 10 | GYPSY DIAMOND | John O’Shea | James McDonald | 0.2L | 9 | 54.5kg | $8 | ||
3 | 1 | RED TRACER | Chris Waller | Nash Rawiller | 0.7L | 5 | 57kg | $4.80 | ||
4 | 2 | STREAMA | Guy Walter | Blake Shinn | 1.5L | 4 | 57kg | $11 | ||
5 | 4 | VIADANA (NZ) | Lance Noble | Craig Williams | 1.7L | 3 | 57kg | $12 | ||
6 | 3 | CATKINS | Chris Waller | Hugh Bowman | 3.7L | 1 | 57kg | $2.70F | ||
7 | 6 | BONARIA | Pat Hyland | Michael Rodd | 10.8L | 7 | 57kg | $51 | ||
8 | 8 | RECITE (NZ) | John Bary | Glen Boss | 15.5L | 8 | 54.5kg | $26 | ||
9 | 9 | SOLICIT | Mathew Ellerton & Simon Zahra | Chad Schofield | 21.6L | 6 | 54.5kg | $4.80 | ||
5 | SHARNEE ROSE | Kris Lees | Brenton Avdulla | 0 |