THIS “DIAMOND” IS BECOMING A GEM

SHE was a “diamond in the rough” earlier, and is now starting to show her quality.

Leading Hawkesbury trainer Brad Widdup made it two wins on end with lightly-raced filly Diamond Show, who quickly made the often difficult transition from Maiden company to Class 1 grade at Wyong yesterday.

Ridden by Alysha Collett, Diamond Show ($2.80 favorite) followed up her breakthrough at home in a Maiden Plate (1600m) on May 27 by taking the Class 1 Handicap over the same distance.

She toughed it out in the straight to defeat November Air ($3.30) and Wyong trainer Wayne Seelin’s $41 chance In Iso.

Diamond Show’s owner, Summertime Thoroughbreds’ John Cordina, paid $340,000 for the daughter of Almanzor as a 2023 Inglis Australian Easter yearling – and has had to be patient.

“I’ve always liked the filly, but we had to take our time with her,” Widdup, who claimed his 53rd winner of the season, said today.

“I trialled her twice as a two-year-old in February and March last year, but she wasn’t ready to go to the races.”

Widdup didn’t start Diamond Show until she was an early three-year-old when she ran eighth at $101 in a midweek Super Maiden Plate (1300m) at Warwick Farm in October.

After two more runs over 1600m and 2100m at the provincials when she ran fifth both times, he gave her another break.

Diamond Show is showing the benefits of her trainer’s handling, really coming into her own this preparation.

Unfortunately, that has come too late to be given her chance in a three-year-old fillies’ classic (with the Queensland Oaks, 2200m at Eagle Farm last Saturday being the last this season).

However, Widdup is confident Diamond Show will continue to get better as she gets older.

He has a couple of options with her as he attempts to put a hat-trick on the board.

“There is both a Conditional Benchmark 64 Handicap (1600m) and Benchmark 64 Handicap (2000m) at Kembla Grange on Saturday week (June 21),” Widdup said.

“I feel she will definitely manage at least 2000m.”

Widdup had hoped to land a Wyong double in the following race, but was thwarted by fellow Hawkesbury trainer Ed O’Rourke.

His two representatives Reverberates ($2.25 favorite) and Jump In The Line ($31) both ran well, but couldn’t quite overhaul O’Rourke’s Shalaa Jet ($11).

Reverberates had chased Diamond Show home, albeit well beaten, at Hawkesbury last month, when Shalaa Jet ran third.

Widdup withdrew his dual Group 3 winner Phearson from last Saturday’s 1600m Handicap at Royal Randwick, and will seek another black type feature with him at that track on Saturday week.

He has earmarked the Listed Civic Stakes (1400m) as the gelding’s next assignment.

Story John Curtis, June 9,2025 - Pics Bradley Photos