Jericho Cup Winner bred by The Oaks Stud

Media Release - Monday December 4

A return to compete in front of Warrnambool’s boisterous crowd could be on the cards for Nassak Diamond following her dominant win in Sunday’s Jericho Cup (4600m).

Nassak Diamond wins the Jericho Cup -image Racing Photos

Bred by The Oaks Stud, the five-year-old mare is by their resident stallion Roc De Cambes, and she showed her supreme staying prowess when running out a seven-length victor, with jockey Campbell Rawiller struggling to pull her up following the marathon trip.

The Oaks Stud General Manager Rick Williams was trackside on Sunday and said it was a memorable moment in his time at the Cambridge farm.

The Oaks Stud General Manager Rick Williams. Photo: Trish Dunell

“It was a fantastic race. It was something I will never forget. We have won more prestigious races over the years, but this was something different – it was a great atmosphere,” Williams said.

“The Warrnambool community support it. There were heaps of people there, just like their Grand Annual meeting in May.

“It’s an absolutely unique raceday because of the history and the man behind it all, Bill Gibbons, who came up with the concept and has supported it all the way through. It was a tremendous race to win.

“She has got unlimited stamina. Campbell Rawiller said afterwards that he had to go right around the backstraight before he pulled up, she was quite happy to do another lap.”

Williams and trainers Shaune Ritchie and Colm Murray are now contemplating Nassak Diamond’s future, with a career over jumps a possibility.

“I am not sure what we will do with her now. She is probably not quick enough to win a two-mile race on top of the ground,” Williams said.

“I have thought about that (jumping). Shaune said he has only ever put her over a few pony hurdles and she seemed tidy enough.

“We will give her a good break and have a think about life.”

Williams is also weighing up the option of retiring the now four-win mare to stud.

Advertisement

“She has earned a place in the broodmare band for us,” Williams said.

“She is out of a mare called Kadesa, who left Scapolo that Kevin Myers trained, and he won a Coupland’s Mile (Gr.2, 1600m), was Group One placed and won nearly $1 million in prizemoney in New Zealand.

“Kadesa is by Zabeel, and she (Nassak Diamond) is by Roc de Cambes, so she has got stamina galore.

“It is a family we have had a lot of luck with and yesterday was a highlight for us.”

Roc de Cambes stands at The Oaks Stud for a fee of $3,000 but Williams said he hasn’t been well patronised in recent years, with the Cambridge farm being his biggest backer.

“We have got a few home-breds by him, but we seem to be the only one who uses him now. He is not a commercial horse anymore, but he has done a good job for us,” he said.

“Fasionista, another daughter of Roc de Cambes, won over 2000m at Te Rapa a few weeks back, we have given her a short spell and she is heading towards the Royal Stakes (Gr.2 Sir Patrick Hogan Stakes, 2050m).”

Meanwhile, Williams was pleased to see Vera Rose win on debut for The Oaks Stud and trainer Tony Pike at Te Rapa last Saturday.

“Vera Rose was really good. We were going to trial her again and they were a bit worried about the Te Awamutu track would be a bit firm on Tuesday, so we thought we might as well run her,” Williams said.

“We thought she would need the run and then we would run her over Christmas, but she defied all expectations – it was a very good effort. She got a good draw and an inch-perfect ride, and it got her home.

“We will have a think about her. She is by a Melbourne Cup winner (Fiorente) out of Powerful Story, so she could have a future as a three-year-old stayer.” – LOVERACING.NZ News Desk

Advertisment
More Reading...
So You Think Filly Shows Oaks Potential
The Bjorn Baker stable has been on fire this year and it’s full steam ahead to Queensland for talented So You Think filly Dame Commander, who beat older rivals at Warwick Farm on Wednesday.
Japanese Bred Filly Wins At Eagle Farm
Could trainer Kris Lees have the Group 1 Queensland Oaks (2200m) on his mind after his three-year-old, northern hemisphere bred filly Eclair Encore (Jpn) recorded a strong victory over 1800m at Eagle Farm.
Sires With Winners - Wednesday May 7
Here is the full list of 44 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.
Queensland Calling for Exciting Wootton Bassett Colt
Champion trainer Chris Waller is renowned for producing talented back season juveniles that blossom into stakes performers and we saw one at Warwick Farm on Wednesday when heavily backed Wootton Bassett (GB) colt Regulated Affair opened his account.
Records Tumble at Huge Australian Weanling Sale
The most successful Inglis Australian Weanling Sale in history concluded at Riverside today with a record individual top price of $775,000 paid for a colt by Too Darn Hot (GB), a record gross and record average.
French Derby Contender for Godolphin
The Godolphin winning run continued in France overnight with a French Derby contender emerging in the shape of progressive Lope de Vega colt Cualificar, who is out of Fastnet Rock’s Group I Epsom Oaks winner Qualify.
It's New Zealand in the Jericho Cup
With those dastardly Europeans cooling their heels,  the $304,000 Haymes Paint Jericho Cup over an energy-sapping 4600m at Warrnambool on Sunday was won by our friends across the Tasman with the mare Nassak Diamond.
Million Dollar Goal for I Am Invincible Filly
Tony and Calvin McEvoy landed a lucrative victory in the $1million Magic Millions National 2YO Classic in May last year with Arabian Summer and are hopeful they have another filly that can do the job this year in Sisstainable.
Castelvecchio Filly Records Promising Victory
Having placed in her first two starts, the Peter Moody and Katherine Coleman trained Street Lark (Castelvecchio) appeared to appreciate the step up to the 1500m of Wednesday’s Sportsbet Get On Extra Plate at Caulfield to break her maiden with a promising performance..
First Win for Sword of State Half-Sister
Well-related filly Paravane broke through for her maiden win in pleasing fashion at Ellerslie on Wednesday when taking out the Join TAB Racing Club 1200 in the hands of senior hoop Vinnie Colgan.