Written by Paul Vettise
The China Horse Club had to dig deep to purchase the Group 1 winner Diademe (NZ) (Savabeel) and the mare has provided quick returns on a hefty investment.
She was bought by the international group for $1.7 million at the Magic Millions Gold Coast National Broodmare Sale where she was offered by Coolmore in foal to the G1 Golden Slipper S. winner Vancouver.
Diademe’s first representative is Conqueror (Fastnet Rock) and he went to the NZ$1 million bid of Mark Pilkington and Lindsay Park Racing when presented by Curraghmore at the New Zealand Bloodstock National Yearling Sale at Karaka.
He has subsequently been a winner and recently finished runner-up in the G2 Sandown Guineas and is under consideration for a trip back across the Tasman for the Karaka Million 3YO Classic at Ellerslie.
Talented brother
Diademe’s second foal is Conqueror’s brother Unition and he made a perfect start to his career at Pukekohe on Saturday with a black type victory in the Listed Fasttrack Insurance S.
The colt races in the China Horse Club colours and is prepared by Murray Baker and Andrew Forsman, who trained Diademe to win seven races, including the G1 New Zealand Thoroughbred Breeders’ S.
Unition
“We do rate him and were expecting a pretty good run from him,” Baker said. “He has been nominated for the Golden Slipper, but that’s still a fair way off at this stage.
“We’ll take him home now and see how he pulls up, but there is a possibility that we will take him to Trentham for the G2 Wakefield Challenge S.”
Baker and Forsman also prepared the dual Group 1 winner Madison County (NZ) (Pins), who will continue his career in the United States for top trainer Chad Brown, for the club and currently have last season’s G2 Lowland S. winner Queen Of Diamonds (NZ) (Savabeel) for them.
Trial winner
Unition, who had won a trial ahead of his first appearance, was quickly into stride to sit in second spot to the turn and hit the front 250 metres from home. He held a strong gallop to take the thick end of the prize.
“He was very quiet going to the start, but when he jumped out, he felt like a different horse,” said Leith Innes, who picked up the mount after Matthew Cameron had to forego his book of rides due to a knee injury.
Leith Innes
“He felt like he’s got X-factor there and did things right. That won’t be his last win, that’s for sure.”
Unition’s dam Diademe is a sister to the G1 New Zealand 2000 Guineas Embellish (NZ), who now stands at Cambridge Stud, and to the dam of the former champion sprinter and two-time Group 1 winner Sacred Star (Flying Spur).
Runner-up Hasstobemagic (Scissor Kick) raced close to the pace and rounded off strongly with the front-runner Amor Fati (NZ) (Showcasing {GB}) holding on for third. The favourite Cool Aza Beel (NZ) (Savabeel) finished a luckless fourth after a gap closed on him in the straight.
