AMANDA Turnbull’s mare Eye See Diamonds caused a minor upset when she outstayed top mare Heavens Trend to win the four-year-old mares’ final of the NSW Breeders Challenge at Menangle Park on Sunday.
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Taken straight to the front from the outside of the front line in the $102,000 Group 1 decider, The Lagoon trainer-driver Turnbull quickly made her intentions clear.
Eye See Diamonds ($8.10) clocked a slick 26.6 seconds first quarter of the mile.
That left $1.30 favourite Heavens Trend to work hard before eventually settling outside the leader as Turnbull and Eye See Diamonds backed off the speed slightly with a 29.5 second split.
That was as easy as it got for the ace mares as they singled out from the rest of the field turning for home then battled down the length of the long Menangle straight.
Heavens Trend may have got her nose slightly in front, but in a finish that even the caller couldn’t pick, Eye See Diamonds fought back beautifully to score by a nose in a 1:52.1 mile rate.
Turnbull gave her training partner Nathan Jack and their families the credit for their success.
“Really without them, none of this would be possible,” she said.
“And the owners of Eye See Diamonds, Rosemary and Terry Cluse have stuck with us through thick and thin and have been fantastic supporters.”
It was the 10th win in 27 starts for the Rock N Roll Heaven x Grace Robinson mare.
Turnbull went on to pick up a third placing in the four-year-old entires and geldings decider driving Power Of Red ($3.10 favourite).