The Diana – Grade I
1 1/8 Mile Turf Stake Purse $500.000 Filly & Mare 3 Year Olds And Up.

1st Darkest Days, trained by Mb Stables
Travelling just in behind the first two this three year old daughter of Commanding battled on gamely to win by a neck making it two grade ones in a row. There is no doubt that without the three year old weight allowance she wouldnt have this impressive record but you cant take away a thing from this impressive filly. Her trainer really has bought into the game that we play here at HRP these days with yet another filly that surpassed her previous record against her own age group in taking on the older generation. She will head to the BC to take on the other top three year olds, many from her own stable, and i am sure that on the way she will pick up a few more decent prizes against the older generation.

2nd Ghost Runner, trained by Pumpkin Racing
Did the older generation proud with a battling second but just couldnt overcome the handicap and had to settle for just a neck defeat. This was a welcome return to form after two efforts from off the front and it was probably the restraint that helped her run so well off a very fast pace.

3rd Devil Wears Prada. trained by Axeman
This grand old six year old flew from the back of the pack to be third beaten under a length and continues to put together a career best season. Drawn wide her jokey made the right decision to take her back off a fast pace and another furlong would probably have seen her winning.

4th Tropics, trained by Smokey Stover
Another one coming from the back off the fast pace she too was finishing like a train and was only beaten a length in the end. This wont have dented her reputation or chances come the BC and as the age allowance gets less she will begin to come into her own.

SUMMARY
Sadly HRP seems to have become a game where this time of year just see’s the three year olds dominating. It happened last year and its just the same this year and whilst this three year old is a very nice filly and may turn out to be a BC champion come November there is no doubt that the weight allowance was what won her the race today.

Categories: Grade I, STAKES ARTICLES