Pure Diamond was forced to play second fiddle to fellow Godolphin colourbearer Comicas (Distorted Humor) in the Feb. 11 Meydan Classic Trial, but the filly went one better to turn the tables on that rival Thursday. Twice a winner over Kempton's all-weather track last summer, Pure Diamond made her carnival debut when third behind Thursday's G3 UAE Oaks winner Polar River (Congrats) in the UAE 1000 Guineas Trial Jan. 14. Rather than venturing up in distance in the sophomore fillies' features, trainer Saeed bin Suroor opted to keep her at this distance and pit her against the boys, a move that paid off Thursday. Off a step slow from the inside gate under Harry Bentley, Pure Diamond made up ground to sit just off the heels off an overly keen First Selection (Spa) (Diktat {GB}) down the backstretch. Coming off the rail and splitting rivals in midstretch, Pure Diamond outrallied Comicas to take the lead at the 200 metre mark and extended her advantage from there.
Bentley tabbed the filly as one with European Classic potential after the race. “She gave me a great feel,” he said. “I've ridden her out the last couple mornings and I know the lads here that have been riding her out said she's going great. She was unlucky in running last time, but she's got a serious turn of foot. It was all about getting her out of the stalls today because she's been a little bit slow recently, but when I saw a gap I just had to commit and go for it. Today she couldn't have done a lot more to impress me. She has a deadly turn of foot and was always going at the line, so she has a bit more to come I'm sure.”
When asked whether Pure Diamond could be one to contest the British Classics, Bentley said, “She's still lightly raced over here, so there's no reason why not.”
Pure Diamond is the ninth foal out of Germany's highweight 2-year-old filly White Rose, whose productive family includes the multiple group winner and G1 Prix Vermeille second Wild Coco (Ger) (Shirocco {Ger}).
MEYDAN CLASSIC SPONSORED BY SKYWARDS-Listed, $125,000, MEY, 3-3, 3yo, 1400mT, 1:23.55, gd.
1–PURE DIAMOND (GB), 117, f, 3, by Street Cry (Ire)
1st Dam: White Rose (Ger) (Hwt. 2yo Filly & G1SP-Ger, GSW-Fr, $181,327), by Platini (Ger)
2nd Dam: Wild Romance (Ger), by Alkalde (Ger)
3rd Dam: Win Hands Down (Ire), by Ela-Mana-Mou (Ire)
O-Godolphin; B-Darley (GB); T-Saeed bin Suroor; J-Harry
Bentley. $75,000. Lifetime Record: 7-3-1-1, $111,015.
2–Comicas, 121, c, 3, Distorted Humor–Abby's Angel, by Touch
Gold. O-Godolphin. $25,000.
3–Taexali (Ire), 121, c, 3, Raven's Pass–Enchanted Evening (Ire),
by High Chaparral (Ire). O-Thistle Bloodstock Limited. $12,500.
Margins: 4HF, 1 1/4, 2.
Also Ran: Ajwad (GB), Dubai Fashion (Ire), First Selection (Spa), Calder Prince (Ire), Almashooqa (Aus), Ruler of Course (Ire).
Click for the Racing Post result. VIDEO.
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