Lightweight Diamond Ring fancied at Trentham

Press, 1 May 1981, Page 2 (Supplement)

Lightweight Diamond Ring fancied at Trentham

Special correspondent Wellington

The promising Sobig mare, Diamond Ring, could make full use of her light weight to win the Gloaming Stakes, first leg of the T.A.B. double at Trentham tomorrow. The $lO,OOO event has attracted a useful field of stayers and there are many chances in the line-up. Diamond Ring, which is on the minimum with only 47kg, has fasliioned a very consistent record these last few months and has weighed in at each of her attempts in Cl competition. The Foxton-trained four-year-old did not graduate from maiden ranks until January but has gone on to record three further wins, the latest being on a soft track at Awapuni. Her Cl outings have produced a fourth in the Opunake Cup and third and fifth placings at Tauherenikau over Easter. An easing of track conditions would bring Diamond Ring further into favour.

The topweight, Brazen Princess, has been in wonderful form with three victories in the last fortnight. None has been in particularly strong company but she has been impressive nonetheless and should be prominent again. Brenrob is not the most reliable of gallopers but he has plenty of ability on his day as he showed with wins in the P. J. Reid Memorial at Hastings and the Feilding Cup. In his current mood he has to be rated highly. Bold Regent failed last time out at Ellerslie but had produced fine efforts at Waverey and Otaki before that, while Great Dane rarely runs a bad race.

Two Can Play has taken on a new lease of life with second placing at Hastings and Tauherenikau and the stablemates, Payco and Kaitoa, both have solid form. Payco won at odds of over 2-to-one at Trentham in January.

Ton Bungay should be improved by recent racing and could be ready to show form

if he struck a soft track. Piako produced a good effort for third behind Brazen Princess at Awapuni last Saturday and his earlier form in highweight company was hard to fault. Prince Trelay has been disappointing lately but could improve on soft ground and the same applies to Flavius. The Hastings galloper, Kurdistan Agent, should take some heading off in the Wadestown Handicap, second leg of the double. The Diplomatic Agent four-year-old has made rapid progress through the grades in recent weeks —his last 10 starts producing five wins and four placings. He scored his first openclass victory at Feilding on Easter Monday and was just cut back by Standoff at Awapuni last Saturday.' A free-going type he should be prominent throughout the 1400 m contest.

His toughest opposition could come from Grand Command. The Oakville four-year-old came back to form

with a fine win at Waverley and he subsequently ran second to High Tai at Otaki. He is at his best at today’s distance.

Abe’s Order is better known as a stayer but he has the ability to sprint well while reasonably fresh. He produced a bold effort for fourth over 1400 m at Feilding on Easter Monday. An easing of track conditions would be in his favour. Al Donte and Diploma are both racing generously and could play a part in the finish while the speedy Giovanni is capable of much better than he has produced lately. Shoshana was disappointing at Awapuni last Saturday but raced in the open for much of the journey. Legal Command and Prince Lee have no recent form but could be improvers. Prince Lee has a great record at Trentham but needs soft footing. Royal Wink, Bandalero and Garforth are all resuming from spells.