Vinery champion More Than Ready led home a Listed quinella for Hunter Valley sires in the KwaZulu-Natal Guineas Trial (1600m) on Friday night.

Diamond King became the 119th stakes winner by More Than Ready at Greyville when facing the starter for just the fifth time.

Diamond King (3c More Than Ready – Salsa by O’Reilly) had won a Clairwood maiden in August before running second to top colt King’s Bay at the same venue the following month.  He started an odd-on favourite back at Clairwood on October 6 but disappointed when midfield behind Last Eclipse.

The Tony Rivalland trained colt was facing the acid test at his first start away from straight-course racing and he passed with flying colours to defeat Taarish (Encosta de Lago) when stepping up to 1600m.

Bred at Cambridge Stud by Sir Patrick Hogan, Diamond King was a $250,000 buy at the 2012 NZB Karaka Premier yearling sale.  His dam Salsa was a Listed winner of the 2005 Winter Championship at Flemington and she is a half-sister to G3 Hawkesbury Cup winner Somepin Anypin (Pins)

Salsa has a 2yo colt by Zabeel and a yearling filly by Stravinsky.  She missed to Tavistock last year.

Vinery stands More Than Ready for a $99,000 (inc gst) service fee.

– Karl Patterson

DIAMOND KING
South African stakes winner by More Than Ready