Latest news with #DiamondRain
National Post
2 days ago
- Sport
- National Post
Jockey John Velazquez guides She Feels Pretty to $750K prize at E.P. Taylor
She Feels Pretty was last at Woodbine two years ago, winning the Natalma Stakes. Since then, she has become one of the top turf mares in North America. She returned to Toronto on Saturday and bagged another big prize, the $750,000 E.P. Taylor Stakes. Article content But it was not easy for the four-year-old filly. Ridden by John Velazquez, She Feels Pretty sat a third for the early part of the 1 ¼ mile race, but she was slightly hit by another horse, causing her a brief discomfort. She moved up nicely around the turn and took command in the stretch. Nearly catching her, however, was English invader Diamond Rain, who, despite being slow out of the gate, charged very quickly in the stretch and lost by just a head at the wire. Article content Article content Article content Trainer Cherie DeVaux decided to bring She Feels Pretty to Woodbine to try and get a guaranteed spot in the Breeders' Cup Filly and Mare Turf rather than wait for the Flower Bowl at Saratoga on Aug. 30. Article content 'It was a natural progression from the Diana (at Saratoga, where she finished a close second),' she said. 'The last couple of weeks, she's been training so well. It made sense to come here now rather than wait a couple of weeks for the Flower Bowl.' Article content She Feels Pretty was sent off at 2-5 and is now eight-for-12 lifetime. Article content CARRYING MOMENTUM: Kevin Attard's trips to the winner's circle didn't end after the King's Plate as he swept the final two stakes on Woodbine's lucrative Saturday card. Article content The veteran trainer sent out Gas Me Up to win the $200,000 King Edward Stakes. Ridden by Flavien Prat, Gas Me Up sat well back early in the one-mile turf race as a speed duel ensued. He had 15 lengths to make up in the final half mile but was able to eat that up quickly, grabbing command in mid-stretch and holding off a closing Wyoming Bill to win by a length. It was the fourth win in eight starts for the five-year-old gelding. Article content Article content Then in the $150,000 Soaring Free Stakes for two-year-olds, Two Out Hero scored as the 6-5 favourite. Ridden by Rafael Hernandez, Two Out Hero sat right behind pacesetter Casson early in the 6 ½-furlong race. He stayed right at the rail and in the stretch, he found a seam and took command en route to a 1 ½-length win. Article content Attard indicated Two Out Hero would likely start in the Summer Stakes on Sept. 13, a Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf qualifier. Hernandez also rode Simcoe to a dominant win in the $150,000 Bold Venture Stakes. Simcoe grabbed command early in the 6 ½-furlong race and held a comfortable margin the rest of the way, winning in the end by five lengths. A five-year-old gelding, Simcoe is now six-for-18 and has won four of his past five for trainer Katerina Vassilieva. Article content In the $150,000 Catch A Glimpse Stakes for the fillies, Corsia Veloce had a good tracking spot early and grinded her way to an 11-1 score with Fraser Aebly aboard. The daughter of Practical Joke is now two-for-two for trainer Josie Carroll. The race is the main prep for the Natalma Stakes on Sept. 13.
Powys County Times
24-05-2025
- Sport
- Powys County Times
Diamond Rain sparkles with strong Haydock display
Charlie Appleby's hot streak continued at Haydock where the impeccably bred Diamond Rain got her career back on track in the Betfred 'Nifty 50' British EBF Hedge Of Oak Stakes. Formerly run at Ayr, the Listed race looked the perfect spot for a filly whose parents, Shamardal and Dancing Rain, both won Classics. Her career began in the best fashion, after being unraced at two, she won her first two outings, including an Oaks Trial at Newbury. However, she finished last in the Ribblesdale and only fourth after a break at Doncaster at the end of the season. Returning to action under William Buick, she looked in trouble with a quarter of a mile to run as Running Lion loomed up to Place Of Safety, but once Diamond Rain hit top gear, she went on to win impressively by a length and three-quarters from fellow 9-4 joint-favourite Running Lion. Appleby's assistant Alex Merriam said: 'That was very good. She's a big old girl and she will have strengthened up. 'We'll see what Will has to say but she's seen that trip out, so the Lancashire Oaks is a possible maybe. She's a big filly, so you think she'll want further, but Will has always said she's got plenty of pace. That was a good starting point. 'At one point, she just hit a bit of a flat spot but once she got rolling, I always thought she'd get there.' Roger Varian has an improving horse on his hands in the shape of Teroomm (3-1 favourite), who brought up his third successive win in the £100,000 Betfred Silver Bowl. The Iffraaj colt was fourth on his only run at two in November but wins at Bath and Thirsk hinted at better things to come. Silvestre de Sousa tracked King Casper down the middle of the track and his mount picked up nicely to win by three-quarters of a length from Tilted Kilt and the fast-finishing Afentiko – and Royal Ascot will no doubt be on the winner's agenda. 'They went very quick early on and jumped out of the gates half a stride quicker than me,' said De Sousa. 'The pace was strong enough for me to sit where I was and the race panned out perfectly as I always had a target to aim on. 'He's a nice horse and I think this race will bring him on again.' The Royal Hunt Cup beckons for Great Chieftain, who continued his improvement with a win in the Betfred Supports Jack Berry House Hell Nook Handicap. Paul and Oliver Cole's four-year-old ended last season with wins at Goodwood and Newmarket and after two unplaced efforts in the spring, he got back to winning ways last time out at Newmarket's Guineas meeting. Buick was always perfectly positioned on the 11-4 favourite and he beat Dashing Darcey by three-quarters of a length.
