Trainer Anthony Cummings will limit his speedster Diamond Earth to 1000m this preparation as she kicks off her Autumn campaign in the $85,000 Onemorenomore First Crop Handicap (1000m) at Warwick Farmtomorrow.
Blake Shinn is the new rider for Diamond Earth at Warwick Farm. Photo by: Steve Hart.
Cummings considers the 1000m is Diamond Earth’s pet distance and if the Choisir filly performs as he expects tomorrow, a Melbourne trip could be on the cards with the Group 1 $500,000 Black Caviar Lightning (1000m) at Flemington on February 16 a possible target.
“There are three or four 1000m stakes races in Melbourne, a couple of them up the straight,” Cummings said.
“I’d like to see how she goes up the straight because if she excelled at that, which she easily could, then the Lightning sits there as a target for her.”
“But she’s got to prove herself of being up to that level obviously.”
A clash with super sprinter Black Caviar in the Lightning could be on the cards if Diamond Earth can prove to Cummings that she is up to top class.
Two of Diamond Earth’s three wins have been over 1000m and the filly has collected almost half a million dollars courtesy of the Inglis Race Series Bonus Scheme.
Diamond Earth lead all the way with Damien Oliver to take out the $250,000 Microflite Helicopters Inglis Banner (1000m) at Moonee Valley on October 22.
And jockey Peter Robl adopted the same tactics when she was too good for De Shamekh and Flying Snitzel in the $250,000 Inglis Nursery (1000m) at Warwick Farm twelve months ago.
Diamond Earth was sent for a spell after being unplaced in the Listed $80,000 Lightning Stakes at Morphettville on July 28 but has won a recent Randwick barrier trial in preparation for her return to the racetrack.
“I was happy with her trial and the way she has been since. This is a nice race for her first time out, the weight scale suits her and she should run pretty well,” Cummings said.
Blake Shinn takes over on Diamond Earth who has been posted the $7 second pick behind the short priced Sessions ($2.30) who has been beaten at his last two starts as favourite.
Peter Snowden has been trying to get Sessions to settle in his races after the Lonhro colt has been over racing in recent starts which saw him finish third over 1300m followed by a second over 1100m, both at Rosehill.
