Diamond Monroe 2002 ~ 2004

In 2002 NewROG made a new acquisition when buying Diamond Monroe from Ireland at the end of the summer. With an already proven winning Point-to-Point record over in Ireland, Diamond impressed Mick Fitzgerald from the start when he schooled him at home. A chestnut gelding by Treasure Hunter. A staying sort who favoured quick ground and a prominent front-running position. WINNER in a 3 mile Handicap Hurdle (14 races: 1 win, 6 places). After much thought Diamond was sold at auction in August 2004 by NewROG and is now trained in the north by Mike Biddick.

During the 2002-2003 season he had 7 races over hurdles: the first at Newbury on 29th November 2002, in a very competitive Class C Novices' Hurdle Race; pleasingly Diamond Monroe jumped effortlessly, on softer ground than we would have liked, and after making all the running he finished a very respectable 5th behind the highly regarded German horse, Saitensohn. Afterwards Mick Fitzgerald reported back that "we will be in the Winners' Enclosure with this one in the future". The second run was at Kempton on 27th January, in a decent Class D Novice Hurdle Race; unfortunately the large field swallowed up Diamond Monroe and coupled with the glue-like conditions the race did not favour us. The start of March brought us back to our home track again but with us came the rain and the ground turned heavy; and with each drop of rain so our chances diminished. Diamond Monroe struggled through the mud but it beat us on the day and he finished 5th in a much strung out field. Newbury again saw host for Diamond Monroe's 4th run this season on 21st March; the very fast ground was in our favour and after taking the decision to run Diamond Monroe from the front, where he seems most comfortable, he jumped quickly and efficiently. However, the trip was disappointingly too short for him and we finished 5th. With a dry spell signalling the start of Spring, the drying ground was in Diamond Monroe's favour and as hoped, his next two race results have showed this. On Good ground and over the perfect distance of 3m at Uttoxeter, on 21st April, Diamond showed us what he is really made of and jumped cleanly and efficiently to finish 2nd , only 1 length behind the other joint favourite, in a field of 11. Having come out of this race well and still with no rain around, Fakenham was his next port of call on 7th May. On Good to Firm going and over a trip just short of 3 miles, Diamond jumped very nicely and again finished a very pleasing 2nd. In his last race before his summer break, Diamond Monroe made the journey to Worcester on 7th June. Over 3 miles and on quick ground but high up in the weights in a large field, he jumped cleanly - enjoying the race from the front. In the closing stages we lost the lead finishing 4th, only 3.5 lengths behind the winner. All of Diamond’s owners enjoyed a really fun filled season, despite battling with such unpredictable weather and were delighted that we managed to get so many races out of him. Diamond is such a likeable horse and there is no doubt that we will only get better with experience.

After his short summer holiday, Diamond Monroe returned back to Seven Barrows looking better than ever and fighting fit; the break having done him the power of good both mentally and physically, as he now looks a much stronger horse than he did last season. His training preparation since then has gone smoothly and Nicky Henderson has been delighted with his progress. However despite us desperately wanting him to go straight to Novice Chasing, the lack of rain has meant that we haven’t been able to safely school Diamond over fences. We were therefore posed with the problem of having a race-fit horse, who needed a race before he ‘went over the top’ but who was not sufficiently prepared to go Chasing. With no rain forecast, we therefore decided to enter Diamond for hurdle race and so on Wednesday 5th November at Newton Abbot, Diamond had his first race of the season and he did us proud - finishing second. Over 2 miles 6 furlongs Diamond did not put a foot wrong, jumping cleanly and enjoying himself immensely. Down the back straight on the last circuit, it was a 2-horse race and Diamond looked to have it sown up, but giving away 1 stone 8 lbs to our rival the weight difference was too great and we were beaten by 2 lengths, the 3rd horse (He's The Biz) a further 15 lengths behind us. Having come out of the Newton Abbot race well, but the dry spell continuing Diamond was entered to run at Ludlow on 24th Novenber 2003 over the favourable trip of 3 miles and on his preferred ground – Good to Firm, nineteen days later. In a field of 7, we were the top weight but luckily with Andrew Tinkler onboard we were able to claim 5lbs, taking us down to 11st. 4lbs and so putting 2 others above us in the weights. Diamond jumped off first and stayed thereabouts the whole way round, being joined by the top weight, What You Know, from the second flight to the sixth but who never looked much of a threat to us. Travelling superbly well on the quick ground, Diamond ate up the ground on the flat between hurdles and really seemed to enjoy himself, taking the lead once again from What You Know between 6th & 7th. As the others started to weaken over the testing trip, Diamond’s stamina kicked in. Approaching the 3rd from home, we took the lead once again from What You Know but he quickly weakened leaving Diamond with three other threats. Down the home straight, two from home we looked in a commanding position and despite the pressure Diamond continued to battle on. At the last it was between Diamond & the Tom Scudamore ridden Sloane Street, with Ella Falls not finding much and Killalongford having weakened on the flat approaching the last. But with a new found determination that was exciting to watch, Diamond put his head down and dug deep refusing to give up, eventually making the line lengths ahead of Sloane Street. A fantastic victory for all of Diamond’s connections; Diamond has given us a glimpse of the stamina, courage and determination that goes into making a fine racehorse - we have got a star in the making. With Diamond on fine form after his Ludlow victory but 4lbs worse off, he was stepped up a Class and entered in a very hot Handicap Hurdle Race over 3 miles & half a furlong at Taunton on Thursday 11th December. In a field of 8 and up against Sloane Street and He's The Biz yet again, Diamond showed real stamina over the long trip despite the scorching pace that was set from the start as well as the unfavourable going (over-night rain having put a real cut into the ground). Marcus Foley held Diamond in touch the whole way round and we were only caught out turning for home, when the Cheltenham winning, Icare D'Oudairies, and classy Emphatic drove for the line. We finished a very creditable 3rd, with He's The Biz and Sloane Street respectively finishing behind us (thus our previous form holding up). Marcus reported afterwards that we were not suited by the ground or the initial fast pace but it was a good solid performance and one not to be disappointed with. The start of the New Year signalled the debut of Diamond's new career over fences and on 21 January 2004 at Fakenham he went Chasing. In a field of seven and over 3 miles and half a furlong, Diamond battled through the unfavourable ground, with Mick Fitzgerald guiding him over the unfamiliar larger obstacles. Resolutely Diamond plugged on and put his head down to finish a very creditable third, making it 4 out of 4 for the Winners' Enclosure this Season. After the race Mick reported on how impressed he had been with Diamond's stamina and if only the ground had been faster we would have won. Thanks to a dry few weeks at the end of February and the ground turning quicker across the country we were able to find a window of opportunity for Diamond at Leicester on 2nd March. However nights of hard frost had made the Going at Leicester extremely fast and Diamond found the pace too quick on the slightly shorter trip than preferred (2m 7f). Despite not getting placed (sadly the first time this season) Diamond did jump superbly well over the fences, judging them well and sailing over them smoothly. I am pleased to say that Diamond returned home safe and sound and we now wait for the ground to dry so we can look for another race for him. After Diamond's disappointing run at Leicester at the beginning of March Nicky decided that a run back over hurdles might sharpen Diamond up a little. Thus Exeter on 28th April, with its nice galloping track was a good choice plus we had the added advantage of having decent quick ground too. Diamond was prominent for the first circuit of the race; four from home Andrew Tinkler started riding him and Diamond took the lead briefly before approaching the third hurdle but weakened and eventually was beaten into 4th place, nine lengths between him and the winner Gumley Gale. Andrew reported afterwards that Diamond came back on the bridle and picked up nicely on the run in and he is confident that we can do better next time out, preferably over a slightly longer trip. The plan is now for Diamond to have a quiet week and then as soon as the rain stops we can find another suitable hurdle race for him. Sadly Diamond did not have a very good final race of the season on 13 May at Ludlow. Wearing blinkers for the first time, over his favoured trip of 3 miles and on good ground, Diamond started the race on good footing out in front and dominating the leading pack. However despite Mick Fitgerald guiding him round, Diamond struggled with his jumping and down the back straight dropped right out of the race. A disappointing note to end the season on but Diamond has been a model of consistency throughout this season, providing us with huge amounts of fun, a thrilling win plus another four trips to the Winners' Enclosure with Places. We couldn't have asked for more.

 

Diamond's Racing Post Entry