Gypsy Diamond has the chance to record her maiden win at Group 1 level in the Queen Of The Turf Stakes 2014 at Royal Randwick on Saturday after returning to winning form last weekend.
Gypsy Diamond is taking winning form into the 2014 Queen Of The Turf Stakes after claiming victory in the Carbine Club Stakes last weekend. Photo by: Steve Hart
Gypsy Diamond had performed well without winning during the 2014 Sydney Autumn Racing Carnival, finishing second in the Group 2 Light Fingers Stakes (1200m), fourth in the Group 2 Surround Stakes (1400m) and an unlucky ninth in the Group 1 Coolmore Classic (1500m), but overcame the top-weight and the heavy Royal Randwick track to score a strong victory in the Group 3 Carbine Club Stakes (1600m) at Saturday.
Trainer John O’Shea was thrilled to see Gypsy Diamond record the third race win of her career on Saturday and he told Racing Ahead this morning that he could not be happier with the condition of the Not A Single Doubt filly heading in the 2014 Queen Of The Turf Stakes this weekend.
“She is bouncing off the walls and she has really done well at home and enjoyed the win last week,” O’Shea said.
“The opposition was only moderate, but she did carry a big weight for a filly to get the job done.
“It wasn’t a disadvantage to get back a little, James rode her nice and patiently and by the time they turned for home she was in striking distance.
“She has just poked along and she is very fit now.
“She will do something tomorrow and she will just turn up to the races tomorrow feeling well and on her home track.”
Gypsy Diamond received little luck in the 2014 Queen Of The Turf Stakes barrier draw yesterday and she will jump from the outside gate, but O’Shea is confident that jockey James McDonald can give the filly a nice run into the race.
There does not appear to be a great deal of early speed in the Queen Of The Turf Stakes, but O’Shea is happy for McDonald to take a sit on Gypsy Diamond and follow classy mare Red Tracer into the race.
“I would like to find Red Tracer in the run somewhere and I don’t think Nash (Rawiller) will be that positive,” O’Shea said.
“There is a little bit of speed and a couple will punch forward and Nash will be two or three pairs back one off and if we can be following him that would be great.”
Gypsy Diamond is currently available at 2014 Queen Of The Turf Stakes odds of $7; with Catkins ($2.80) a narrow favourite from stablemate Red Tracer and the well-backed Solicit ($6).
