Diddle Dumpling's all-the-way success at Rosehill Gardens marks her as a stakes contender
The Gerald Ryan and Sterling Alexiou -trained filly back-to-back victories for the first time in her career with a sustained frontrunning performance in the The Agency Real Estate Benchmark 72 Handicap (1300m).
Ryan and Alexiou have always held Diddle Dumpling in high regard but have been forced to wait patiently for her to put it all together.
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The daughter of Deep Field has returned a more complete package this campaign and it showed on her home track
'She has settled a lot in the brain this time around,' Ryan said.
'She had a good spell up and came back a lot stronger.
'She is a lot more settled in herself but she has always had the ability, it was just a matter of getting her to do things right.
'This time around she has done everything right.'
A wide draw saw jockey Tim Clark make the decision to push forward early and control the race on Diddle Dumpling.
He kicked a length and a half clear early in the straight and Diddle Dumpling was able to hold her rivals at bay, scoring by a length from Matthew Smith 's Golden Straand ($13) with the Michael Freedman -trained Codetta ($5.50 favourite) in third.
Diddle Dumpling does it at both ends in The Agency Real Estate Handicap � @clarkyhk pulls off a great frontrunning ride for @RARacing_ pic.twitter.com/UifHGPPrsS
â€' Australian Turf Club (@aus_turf_club) July 5, 2025
'She is a nice filly that can progress to a better grade,' Clark said.
'I think she can be versatile. Obviously our hand, we didn't have a lot of options out there and we had to roll with her.
'I was happy enough from out there to show my intent and generally if you show intent from out there you are a good chance of finding the front.
'She was able to do that and travel well. It took her 100m to work through her gears but when she got to her top she lengthened really well.'
Diddle Dumpling was tested in stakes grade during her two-year-old and three-year-old seasons, including finishing fifth in last year's Group 2 Percy Sykes Stakes.
Ryan has ambitions to give Diddle Dumpling another chance in better company soon.
'We would love to get black type with her,' he said.
'There are a couple of those early mares races in August-September might be alright for her.
'We will see what's around.'
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