SUPPORTERS of yesterday's Blue Diamond Stakes winner Star Witness were not quite on the same page as his rider Nicholas Hall as the field turned for home in the $1 million race. With just a couple of horses behind him and many lengths behind the leaders, things were looking bleak from the grandstand, reports the Sunday Age's Andrew Eddy.His report adds: ''That was exactly where I wanted to be,'' Hall said later. ''He was comfortable and travelling well and ready to let down.'' Asked whether he w
SUPPORTERS of yesterday's Blue Diamond Stakes winner Star Witness were not quite on the same page as his rider Nicholas Hall as the field turned for home in the $1 million race. With just a couple of horses behind him and many lengths behind the leaders, things were looking bleak from the grandstand, reports the Sunday Age's Andrew Eddy.
His report adds: ''That was exactly where I wanted to be,'' Hall said later. ''He was comfortable and travelling well and ready to let down.'' Asked whether he was worried he was too far off the lead, he replied: ''That never worries me. They'd run hard and they were going to stop and come back to you and that's what happened.''
But for those watching, it looked a hopeless task as filly Shaaheq looked to put the race beyond doubt when Dan Nikolic sent her clear with 200 metres to run. But then Hall got to work and, on the line, Star Witness [$10] had a half-neck to spare over Shaaheq [$11] with the same margin to the favourite Beneteau [$3.20], who also ran home strongly from the back of the field.
Star Witness was bought for $150,000 as a yearling at the Magic Millions sale by his trainer Danny O'Brien as he was the first foal out of Leone Chiara, whom O'Brien had trained to several wins. He also trained Leone Chiara's brother, Ferocity, to a win in the Ascot Vale Stakes at Flemington and the Adelaide Magic Millions.
Leone Chiara's greatest claim to fame before yesterday was that she was the horse who Craig Newitt rode and was beaten on as favourite at Sandown in 2004. He was later suspended for 18 months for giving false evidence to stewards about a relationship he had with a bookmaker.
The Diamond runner-up Shaaheq looked certain to give trainer David Hayes his sixth Blue Diamond when she burst clear 200 metres from home but she just tired late after doing a lot of the tough work on the speed. Stablemate Evidentia ($21) had no luck as she was squeezed at the start and then nearly fell at the tail of the field at the 800-metre mark before picking up ground to finish 10th.
Beneteau's rider, Daniel Ganderton, said the Blue Diamond was one of the roughest races he had ridden in. ''There was a real skirmish inside me and I didn't want to be part of that so I got trapped a bit wide and had nothing to take me into the race,'' he said.