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.

Advertisement

“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.

“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...
Cup Day Stakes-Winner for So You Think
The Listed VRC TAB Trophy (1800m) for three year-olds on Cup Day at Flemington drew a competitive field of up and comers with So You Think gelding Opening Address stamping himself as a bright prospect for the future with a stylish victory.
Kiwi Bred Gringotts Wins $3million Big Dance
Talented New Zealand-bred gelding Gringotts(NZ) (Per Incanto) delivered a big payday for his connections with victory in Tuesday’s A$3 million Big Dance (1600m) at Randwick.
2024 Melbourne Cup Result - It's Knights Choice
The 2024 Melbourne Cup has been run and won with Knight’s Choice, a five-year-old gelding by Extreme Choice victorious.
Rosemont and Partners Stakes Quinella on Cup Day
Written Tycoon posted his second new stakes-winner on Melbourne Cup Day when promising three year-old gelding Catoggio took out the Listed VRC Amanda Elliot Stakes (1400m)  for Rosemont Stud and partners, who also race the second horse Bosustow.
All Too Hard's Arran Bay Brave in the Furphy Plate
Phillip Stokes admitted his preference was to run Arran Bay in the Listed John Letts Cup at Morphettville but was overruled by the owners, who made the correct decision in favouring the Listed Furphy Plate (1800m) at Flemington.
El Vencedor wins G3 Balmerino Stakes
El Vencedor is making a habit of picking up major victories at Ellerslie, adding the Gr.3 Balmerino Stakes (2000m) to his burgeoning record at Tuesday’s Melbourne Cup Day meeting.
Knights Choice a True Underdog Story
Punters were left stunned when the Queenslander Knight's Choice and Japanese visitor Warp Speed (JPN) emerged from the pack to fight out a dramatic finish to the $8,560,000 Group 1 Lexus Melbourne Cup (3200m) at Flemington.
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.
Tycoon Star Makes Winning Debut in G3 Maribyrnong Plate
Tycoon Star looked like the consummate professional when making a winning career debut in the Group III Darley Maribyrnong Plate (1000m) to kickstart Melbourne Cup Day at Flemington.
Kiwi Bred Grey Wins Subzero for OTI at Flemington
New Zealand-bred gelding Cloudland proved a handful for James McDonald at Flemington on Tuesday, but the champion jockey was in a forgiving mood after they had claimed top honours in the Subzero Handicap.