Platinum Diamond (NZ) Doubles Up

Classy Karaka graduate Platinum Diamond (NZ) (Hello Youmzain) has completed her two-year-old season with a rare black-type double.

The Lisa Latta-trained filly added Saturday’s $80,000 Listed Phil’s Electrical & Gipsy Caravans Ryder Stakes (1200m) at Otaki to her last-start success in the Listed Castletown Stakes (1200m) at the same venue. Platinum Diamond was a $90,000 purchase from Book 2 of Karaka 2024 and has now had four starts for three wins and $112,975 in stakes.

Fourth on debut in early May, Platinum Diamond cleared maiden ranks in impressive come-from-behind style at Wanganui later that month. She added the Castletown Stakes in start number three, and Saturday’s Ryder provided a perfect ending to her first preparation. It also made her the first two-year-old to win both the Castletown Stakes and the Ryder Stakes since Final Reality (NZ) (Howbaddouwantit) in 2005.

Platinum Diamond was ridden by Bruno Queiroz on Saturday and settled in midfield along the rail before moving forward to sit just behind the leaders coming down the side of the track.

Spandeedo (NZ) (Ferrando) made the home turn awkwardly and carried some of his rivals out towards the middle of the course. Queiroz kept Platinum Diamond close to the rail and she kicked hard off the turn and quickly took command.

Luminance (NZ) (Time Test) and the Latta-trained Brutiful Lass (Brutal) chased valiantly down the straight and closed the gap, but Platinum Diamond maintained her advantage and swept past the finish line three-quarters of a length in front.

“She is a very, very good horse and such a lovely type,” Queiroz said. “I was very confident. She travelled well, and in the last 600 metres, she came through on the inside and was very happy to be there.”

Platinum Diamond comes from the family of Corsage (NZ) (Volksraad) and Aotea Lad (NZ) (Savabeel), who both performed to a high level as three-year-olds, and Latta believes this filly can follow a similar trajectory.

“She has a summer-type coat already, but she keeps herself well and she is very exciting,” the Awapuni trainer said. “I don’t think she is just a wet-tracker, so we’re going to give her two or three weeks as a freshener and she is going to the paddock at a good time.”

Platinum Diamond is one of two New Zealand stakes winners for Cambridge Stud shuttle stallion Hello Youmzain, who finishes the 2024-25 season as the country’s leading first-season sire.

Vendor	Beaufort Downs Ltd
Purchaser	Lisa Latta Racing Stables (Manawatu-Whanganui)
Breeding	Hello Youmzain – Spritz
Sale	Lot 980, Karaka 2024 Book 2, $90,000
Breeder	Beaufort Downs Ltd
Owner	N J McAlister, K T Dixon & T D Tomlins