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Michael Graham
Rocky's Diamond shines in Galmoy Hurdle
Rocky's Diamond and Shane Fitzgerald, number 8
© Photo Healy Racing
Rocky's Diamond saw off the field to grab the spoils for Declan Queally in the Grade 2 John Mulhern Galmoy Hurdle at Gowran Park.
They were there to be shot at by a host of challengers over two out and veered right racing towards the last. Franciscan Rock closed on Rocky's Diamond there, but Rocky's Diamond found plenty on the run-in to strike gold by a length and a-quarter at 5/1. Thedevilscoachman kept on for second at 28/1 and was the same distance in front of Franciscan Rock (12/1).
Queally said: “He’s only five, clear winded, great heart and stays forever — a brilliant horse.
“He has an entry in the Stayers Hurdle. He’s cool, doesn’t get overexcited so you wouldn’t rule it out. I think a better gallop would suit him, but he did well there off slow fractions.
“When he turned in I thought he would get swallowed up, but he’s not a slow horse either.
“He was a bit of a fool as a younger horse, but he’s grown and he’s matured.
“He does things easily at home, so it’s hard to know how good he’s going to be. He’s light-framed so we don’t kill him. Hopefully he’ll keep improving.”
Jockey Shane Fitzgerald added: "He was very good and jumped super.
"He got a little bit lonely in front and I got lit up a bit when Gavin (Brouder on Franciscan Rock) came down my outside coming down the straight.
"He probably wasn't as fluent jumping when he hit the front, but he just battled gamely the whole way to the line.
"He was just doing too much the whole time, but he was very game to the line.
"A savage training performance and definitely more to come from this lad. He's still only a baby, he's only had a couple of runs.
"He just has an awful lot of ability.
"Hopefully, they will keep me on him but he definitely has a bright future."
Rocky's Diamond was third in the Grade 1 Savills Hurdle at Leopardstown over Christmas.
Paddy Power cut Rocky's Diamond from 50/1 to 16/1 for the Stayers Hurdle.
Additional reporting by Alan Magee