Two-year-olds Take Centre Stage

The Jack and Sadie Diamond Stakes, each worth $100,000, give the class of ‘22 an opportunity to head into winter quarters with bragging rights and some serious cash

QUALITY COMMAND has developed into a consistent performer throughout this season, winning her two most recent starts with some authority and she’s the one they all have to beat today. WIDE AWAKE was rallying behind the useful winner Amanda last time, without looking like catching the winner, but this represents a drop in class for the Woodbine import and she should be thereabouts. There’s probably little between ROSE OF TEXAS and NOTHINGBUTSUNSHINE, with the former’s third behind Wandalita two starts ago perhaps giving her a slight edge.

IRISH LUNA has already won in tougher company this season than she faces here and this represents another small drop in class. Her length second to Ostracize over this distance two starts ago sets a tough benchmark for her rivals. RACINO was entitled to need the race last time after a period out and should be closer today, while CERTIFIABLE’s convincing win against Done That over the 8 1/2 furlongs back in July makes her a contender.

HOLLYWOOD MISTRESS chased home Ice Breaker and Silk Stilettos over today’s distance last month and she rarely runs below par for the Hastings Racing Club. She’s a must for the shortlist. WALKINTHEWALK was just behind the Club horse that day and they shouldn’t be too far apart again here. DO YOU WANNA GO has run as though an increase in distance will suit her and she finally gets her chance to prove the point.

FILLY FATALE has arguably the best form of those who have made appearances this term, although she appears to have lost her way a little of late, while INDYETTA’s fourth to Rememberthealamo on her debut in July was promising enough and puts her in the mix. ISLAND LIVING makes her fourth career start and has also run well enough to suggest she can make her presence felt. The market should give the best clues to the chances of those making their career debuts although, on pedigree alone, ELLAMEISTER and ADDENDUM are certainly worth keeping an eye on.

AIR FORCE put on a scintillating display to break her maiden last time, making all the running and comfortably seeing off today’s rivals MATSQUI and BC CHU CHU in the process. However, she will have to cope with considerable  threat of the well-named ABOVE AVERAGE, who looked just about the best juvenile filly we’d seen all year when sauntering impressively to a near 13-length win over Texas Tonic last month. We’ll know more about the two-year-olds’ pecking order after this, but she looks the one to beat.

Overconfidence may have been LEGACY SQUARE’s issue last time. He went down by just a neck to the gutsy Buck in Command in the CTHS Sales Stakes contest after looking all over the winner approaching the stretch. TIME TICKER was baulked late when losing by just a head to ROAD CLOSURE, but was then awarded the race by the stewards and the pair may be close together again today. Traffic issues also cost MAGIC ROAD any chance last time and he could easily be a factor here with a clear run.

COUNTRY COWBOY has been running solidly all year, takes a healthy dose of class relief and should go close if able to repeat his win at a higher level back in June. BAKLANE has found just one rival too good in each of his past three wins and his fans will be hoping today’s finally the day, while stablemate JACOBS CALL makes his first appearance for new connections after being claimed when going down by just a head to Guns n Ammo last time.

Standings

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