STABILITY NOW A CALMING INFLUENCE ON DILMI

THERE was stability in his decision after all!

Nacim Dilmi pondered whether he had made the right decision earlier this year to geld a young horse with an impressive pedigree who had cost plenty as a yearling.

Domeland forked out a cool $550,000 to be exact at the 2024 Inglis Australian Easter sale to secure him.

Understandably, the Wyong trainer was breathing easier when Stability broke through at his home track yesterday at his sixth start.

Ridden by Lee Magorrian, the three-year-old son of Zoustar started at $6.50 and overpowered $2.05 favorite Oakfield Iowa.

The reason for Dilmi’s doubts about gelding Stability arose when only a fortnight after the operation the gelding’s older half-brother Caballus (by I Am Invincible) won the Group 1 VRC Newmarket Handicap (1200m) at Flemington on March 7.

‘You always question whether you have made the right decision, and I began to second guess myself when Caballus won that race,” Dilmi said today.

“But it was the only decision we could make if we wanted a good racehorse.

“Whilst I didn’t have Stability last season, apparently he had issues and didn’t race as a two-year-old.

“It was obvious when we got him going this preparation that he didn’t have his mind on the job.

“Being a young horse with a great pedigree, it wasn’t an easy decision to make to geld him, but it was the right one.

“It has certainly switched him on.

“When Stability did so well during the week, I spoke to the boss and decided to back him up after finishing fourth at Newcastle last Saturday.

“I was a bit worried when he got back in yesterday’s race, but the pleasing part was how he went between horses in the straight.

“Hopefully that win will now give him the confidence to go on with it and win more races.”

Dilmi, in his first season of training, has prepared 34 winners and is on his way to winning his home track premiership.

“It’s something I never thought was possible,” he said.

“My goal was to try to get 20 winners, and we’ve well and truly done that.

“It’s reflects credit on all our staff, and we’ll be trying to get a couple more winners before the season closes at the end of the month.”

Leading Newcastle trainer Kris Lees was a Gold Coast winner yesterday.

His well-named two-year-old Maurice filly Misato (Brandon Lerena) took the 2YO Maiden Plate (1400m) for Lees close friend, owner Edward Throsby, at only her second start.

STORY JOHN CURTIS, JULY 5, 2026 - PICS BRADLEY PHOTOS