Platinum Diamond (NZ) Lands Listed Hat-Trick

Karaka graduate Platinum Diamond (NZ) (Hello Youmzain) continued her rise with another super-impressive performance in Saturday’s $80,000 Listed HS Dyke Wanganui Guineas (1200m).

The Lisa Latta-trained filly has now won four races in a row, the last three of them at Listed level. She has earned $158,975 from her five-start career, providing an outstanding return on her $90,000 purchase price from Book 2 of Karaka 2024.

Platinum Diamond was a late starter as a two-year-old last season and made her debut in early May with a fourth over 1100 metres at Hawera. She has been unbeaten since then, stringing together wins in a 1200-metre race at Wanganui on May 31, the Listed Castletown Stakes (1200m) at Otaki on June 20, the Listed Ryder Stakes (1200m) at Otaki on July 26 and Saturday’s Wanganui Guineas. She is the first horse to ever complete the Castletown-Ryder-Wanganui Guineas treble.

The line-up for Saturday’s Wanganui Guineas appeared stronger than the Castletown and Ryder, but that made no difference to Platinum Diamond.

Initially last after being a step slow to leave the starting gates, Platinum Diamond soon recovered and moved up into a handy position in fifth for jockey Bruno Queiroz.

The Stephen Marsh-trained runners Churmatt (Churchill) and Swiss Prince (NZ) (El Roca) strode to the front together soon after rounding the home turn, but then all eyes were drawn wider out on the track. Platinum Diamond suddenly swept up alongside that pair and burst to the lead.

Churmatt tried his hardest to stay with the favourite through the final 200 metres, but Platinum Diamond’s superiority shone through and she edged ahead to win by half a length.

“She’s an amazing horse,” Queiroz said. “I was confident going into the race, but her performance was very impressive. She ran home so strongly in the last 300 metres.”

Latta bought Platinum Diamond from the Karaka 2024 draft of breeders Beaufort Downs. She trains the filly for long-time owners Neville McAlister, Kevin Dixon and Trevor Tomlins.

“She’s a special filly,” Latta said. “She paraded a little bit fresher today. We’d given her a couple of weeks in the paddock to freshen her up slightly. She showed that she’s very smart.

“We were hoping for a better track today to give us a nice line on her, but it was a stronger field and she just keeps stepping up. She does everything so effortlessly and easily. She’s a very easy filly.

“It’s great for Neville McAlister, Kevin Dixon and Trevor Tomlins. They’re fantastic owners and they’re all here today, so we’re very happy.

“We might look to send her to the South Island early now as we build towards the 1000 Guineas (Group One, 1600m).”

Wanganui Guineas runner-up Churmatt was an $80,000 purchase from Book 1 of Karaka 2024, then was passed in at the Ready to Run Sale. He has had two starts for a win and a placing, earning $24,320.

The third-placed Swiss Prince was bought for $130,000 from Book 2 of Karaka 2024. He has placed in two of his three starts to date.

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