AL MAHER's reputation for siring top-class milers was further enhanced by the
tenacious Group 1 ATC Queen of the Turf (1600m) success of Diamond Drille. A 4-year-old daughter of the leading Emirates Park-based stallion, Diamond Drille became the second Randwick Group 1 mile winner of her sire's flourishing stud career and the latest in a long-line of feature 1600-metre winners.
Trained by Gai Waterhouse on behalf of the Kolivos family of Pierro fame, Diamond Drille produced a determined stretch run to win the $1 million contest by a short-neck. Caught back in the field in the early stages on a track favouring front-runners, the quality mare displayed tremendous courage to land one of the most coveted contests on the new The Championship program (Day Two).
An elated Gai Waterhouse said after the win: "She's the most underrated mare in Australia. She's by Al Maher, she was bred at Emirates Park, one of the great breeding grounds of Australia, and Tommy [Berry] just rode her a treat. We discussed how everyone was wanting to be on the speed… Tom just let her find her feet and attack the line. She did exactly that."
In another illustration of AL MAHER's exceptional ability to sire a top-class miler, Diamond Drille is now unbeaten in three starts at 1600 metres. She became her sire's 20th individual stakes winner when claiming the Group 3 ATC Aspiration Stakes (1600m) in mid-March and last Saturday emulated Fat Al as a Randwick Group 1 mile winner for the Emirates Park home-bred stallion.
In addition to the top-flight 1600-metre victories of Diamond Drille and Fat Al, AL MAHER's leading progeny also include the likes of Majestic Music, Budriguez, All Legal and Oasis Bloom — all Group winners of celebrated metric mile events on the Australian racing calendar.
Group winning milers by Al Maher
FAT AL: ATC Epsom Hcp-Gr.1 & ATC Carbine Club Stks-Gr.3
DIAMOND DRILLE: ATC Queen of the Turf-Gr.1 & ATC Aspiration Quality-Gr.3
MAJESTIC MUSIC: VRC Edward Manifold Stks-Gr.2 & SAJC R.A. Lee Stks-Gr.3
BUDRIGUEZ: VRC Blamey Stks-Gr.2, MRC T.S. Carlyon Stks-Gr.3 & SAJC R.A. Lee Stks-Gr.3
ALL LEGAL: ATC Villiers Stks-Gr.2
OASIS BLOOM: MVRC Stocks Stks-Gr.2
In addition to the brace of Group race victories posted by Diamond Drille, interstate autumn programs have also witnessed AL MAHER being responsible for the Group 2 MVRC Alister Clark Stakes winner Pheidon, the Listed Bendigo JC Yalumba Golden Mile winner Fat Al, and the unbeaten 3-year-old filly River Delta.
Even after supplying another winner at the highest level of domestic competition, the 2014 service fee for AL MAHER is to remain at $16,500 (inc 10% GST).
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