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Gary Carson

Gary Carson

Rebel proves a real Diamond for Lupini

Mon 23rd Sep 2024, 17:08

Rebel Diamond (right)
Rebel Diamond (right)
© Photo Healy Racing

Rebel Diamond secured a hat-trick of victories with a neat win in the Ballyhane Blenheim Stakes at Fairyhouse, in which the two British raiders finished just out of the places.

Natalia Lupini ’s chestnut lost his maiden tag at the fifth time of asking at Naas in August, taking a six-furlong event, before backing that success up with another victory at Cork next time out.

He was required to take a step forward from that those two performances when stepping up to Listed level at Naas, and under Billy Lee he was a 4-1 chance in a field of seven.

Lee rode the colt patiently, slotting in on the outside to begin to mount a challenge when rounding the bend.

A handful of the field threw their hats in the ring to take up the lead, including Hollie Doyle on Archie Watson’s Vingegaard and Amy Murphy’s Itsatenfromlen but it was Rebel Diamond who stayed on best of all to secure a three-quarter-length victory from One Smack Mac

“He’s progressing well, he won very well in Cork, and quick ground is the key to him,” said the trainer’s partner Craig Bryson.

“It was a nice race here today and he seemed to win easy. We’re very happy with him.

“He has a good attitude, travels well and quickens well. Billy said he won as he liked there today and we’re happy that there is more to come from him.

“We’ll have a look and see (what is next) but he’s probably had plenty of racing this year. We’ll see how he is after that. He’s probably for sale so that’s a nice one to pick up.”

About Gary Carson
Gary started out as a trainee/assistant journalist with the Sporting Life newspaper and has worked in the racing industry for over 25 years. He has been with the Press Association since 2013 and won the Irish Field Nap Table in 2016. He enjoys working with horses and trained his own horse, Mamaslittlestar, to win a point-to-point in 2019.