Moore To Partner Diademe In Queen Of The Turf Stakes

Leading British hoop Ryan Moore has been booked to partner talented Kiwi mare Diademe in the 2015 Queen Of The Turf Stakes at Royal Randwick on Saturday.

Ryan Moore has been booked to ride Diademe in the 2015 Queen Of The Turf Stakes. Photo by: Sarah Ebbett

Ryan Moore has been booked to ride Diademe in the 2015 Queen Of The Turf Stakes. Photo by: Sarah Ebbett

Trainer Murray Baker revealed yesterday that he would allow Opie Bosson to decide whether he wanted to ride Diademe or Sports Illustrated in the Group 1 Queen Of The Turf Stakes (1600n) and he was left without a jockey for Diademe when Bosson elected to take the ride on Sports Illustrated.

Baker told New Zealand Racing Desk that he was worried he would not be able to find a leading hoop to ride Diademe in the Queen Of The Turf Stakes, but he said he was delighted that Coolmore Racing Manager James Bester was able to secure the services of Moore, who has returned to Australia to partner Cox Plate winner Adelaide in the Group 1 Queen Elizabeth Stakes (2000m).

“Most of the Australian riders were taken so I asked James and we were lucky enough to get him,” Baker said.

Diademe has been a consistent performer at Group level and will be returning to racing in Australia for the first time since she performed well without winning in the Group 3 Glenlogan Park Stakes (1350m), Listed Strawberry Road Handicap (1600m) and Listed Centenary Mercedes-Benz Mile (1600m) during the 2013 Brisbane Winter Racing Carnival.

The Savabeel mare started her summer campaign with a close second behind Pure Champion in the Group 3 Manawatu Challenge Stakes (1400m) at Awapuni on December 20 and he produced credible efforts without finishing in the placings in the Group 2 Rich Hill Mile (1600m) at Ellerslie on New Year’s Day and the Group 1 Thorndon Mile (1600m) at Trentham on January 24.

Diademe produced an impressive performance to finish fourth behind Sacred Star in the Group 1 NRM Sprint (1400m) at Te Rapa on February 7 and she returned to winning form with a narrow victory in the Group 3 Westbury Classic (1400m) at Ellerslie on March 4.

The consistent mare produced an uncharacteristically poor effort when she finished ninth in the Group 2 New Zealand International Handicap (1600m) at Tauranga on March 21 before she recorded a maiden win at the highest level of racing in the Group 1 New Zealand Breeders (1600m) at Te Aroha on April 4.

Diademe is currently available at 2015 Queen Of The Turf Stakes odds of $31, while First Seal ($3.50) is a narrow favourite from Noble Protector ($3.60) and Catkins ($4.60).

About The Author

Thomas Hackett

Thomas is a passionate and opinionated racing journalist and punter who has been obsessed with horse racing since he backed Saintly to win the 1996 Melbourne Cup. An international racing enthusiast, he has his finger on the pulse of racing news not just from Australia but all around the world.