Sweet Diamond and Who's Delight among the stars to shine on Uncut Gems night

By Mike Love

While Group 1s were being run and won at Alexandra Park last night, there were some talented horses winning good races at Addington too, with the listed Uncut Gems especially producing fast times and class performances.

The Rico Lodge Uncut Gems Mares Classic was expected to be a match race between the Steve and Amanda Telfer pair, Kahlua Flybye and Sweet Diamond.

Jonny Cox did not rush Sweet Diamond off the gate, working forward under her own steam to find the lead before handing up to stablemate and race favourite Kahlua Flybye. Trailing all the way before taking the passing lane, Sweet Diamond was able to scoot through and win by three quarters of a length from runner up Insarchatwist while Kahlua Flybye finished third in a solid 1:56.2 mile rate.

“She’s not a horse that takes a lot of racing, so we gave her three weeks away. I just think Sweet Diamond was in a better zone last night,” says Amanda Telfer.

It was the Sweet Lou four-year-old's eighth win in 31 starts.

“They’ll both go out now and come back toward the end of the year.”

The Robert and Jenna Dunn stable dominated the Betavet Uncut Gems with driver Gavin Smith and Who’s Delight, who ran them ragged.

Leading all the way, Smith did not hear the breathing of another horse on his helmet, careering away to win by two and a half lengths in a dashing 1:53.8 mile rate from stable mate Charlie Brown and the Craig Ferguson trained Wag Star.

It was a powerhouse performance, and Who's Delight's ninth win overall.

Bet N Win for David and Stacey White brought up the training pair's ninth success when he won the NZB Standardbred Uncut Gems for the trotters.

Stepping well from the 2600m for driver Bob Butt, Bet N Win was able to work to the lead where they stayed for the remainder of the race. Winning by three and three quarter lengths, race commentator Matt Cross labelled him as “a rising star” as he cruised to victory.

Other highlights included two year old What The Hill trotting filly Queen Kizen making it two from two winning the IRT. Your Horse. Our Passion trot, and Chase The Dream winning heat four of the Garrards Sires Stakes by a short margin from southerner Dreams Are Free/ The final will be run at Addington next week.