The phenomenal Group 1 training successes currently being enjoyed by the Foxton-based conditioner Angela Turnwald, along with her partner Paul Freeman, carried on at the Manukau Stadium on Sunday afternoon when she mentored Diddilee to his stylish victory in the $90,000 Auckland Cup final over 527m.

Pictured: Diddilee following his Auckland Cup victory

It was a stunning effort by Diddilee just to get up to secure his biggest career win. It was only over the final few strides in the hotly contested final that the victory was cemented as Diddilee snatched his second Group 1 title.

The pace was on from the jump with the Lisa Cole trained pair of finalists Don’t Knocka Gee and Blazin’ Carter showing up during the early rush for positions, while her third runner All About Space held the rail. The $3.10 race favourite Ringside was also sighted handy to the pace for his trainer Ray Adcock when the field charged into the first turn.

Settling towards the rear along the rail was the eventual winner Diddilee. Another of the favoured contenders Pinny Mack wasn’t in early contention for his trainer Steve Clark at this stage. Streaming down the back straight it was Blazin’ Carter and Ringside who were contesting the pace. Mounting a sustained gallop around the outer and quickly improving was Pinny Mack, while back in the field Diddilee was commencing a weaving gallop.

It was pretty much the same order when rounding the turn where Pinny Mack had loomed up to join the pace setters. Diddilee had improved to be just in behind the pace when the field straightened up for the run home.

Ringside has wrestled the race lead away from the other contenders and he look set for Auckland Cup glory, when all of sudden Diddilee propelled himself at Ringside and the momentum he had gathered saw him powerfully extend and in doing so he won the Auckland Cup after 30.52s of hard out, intense chasing. The strength of Diddilee’s finish saw the official margin being declared at three quarters of a length.

Ringside was a real brave when clinging onto his second placing as was Pinny Mack for his third place with a length separating the pair, while there was also the same margin back to the fourth placed Blazin’ Carter.

  
Members of the Brady, Patrickson, Szybiak Syndicate & J Dogs Syndicate who attended the Auckland Cup meeting included Judy Liddett, Steve MacAuley and Dave Wilkinson who is holding the Auckland Cup. They’re seen here with handler Paul Freeman; Auckland Cup second placed Ringside and the third placed Pinny Mack

Understandably it was an enthusiastic reaction from the members of the Brady, Patrickson, Szybiak Syndicate & J Dogs Syndicate with some of them having made the trip north from Wellington.

“I had no idea who had won the race until I saw one of the owners wildly celebrating up by the podium. When they came past me (at the 527m traps) I thought he had a chance to run a hole (minor placing). I was lost for words when I realized Diddilee had won the cup,” advised Paul Freeman.

For Diddilee his second Group 1 title came five races after he had prevailed in the $30,000 Active Electrical Christchurch NZ St Leger. The Australian bred son of Barcia Bale and Hot Platter had been displaying great track sense and that asset certainly characterized this victory as Freeman advises.

“It was almost as if Opie Bosson was riding him when you look at the way he improved taking gaps when going down the back. Then during the run home Diddilee made all the right calls when he perfectly picked the gaps. He is one of those rare greyhounds who can burn at both ends of his races.

“I was rapt for the owners who made it out to Manukau and they thoroughly enjoyed the whole race day experience there, especially with the fantastic hospitality that is always provided by the Auckland Club during their Group 1 meetings.”

Diddilee is currently sitting in the fourth position on the City Of Palmerston North Golden Chase leader board, which pretty much says that he has firmed up a place for the $28,000 March 29 series of 457m match races.

“He can have a bit of let up, then have a crack at the Golden Chase. From there we’ll aim him towards the New Zealand Derby. He isn’t really a one turn track type of dog, but hey you have to have a crack at these races,” confirmed Freeman.

Diddilee is compiling a high winning strike rate with Sunday’s win being his 15th, while he has placed on a further six occasions. All up his 36 race career has now yielded his connections with $103,477 in stake earnings.

As mentioned it was a continuation of the amazing current sequence of Group 1 training successes being enjoyed by Angela Turnwald. The roll started back in December when she mentored Nature’s Gent to his win in the $46,000 Spion Rose Cup final (Diddilee was second from trap four). It was the same greyhound who prevailed in the $30,000 Hatrick Classic at the same venue in January.

Diddilee then picked up the baton, where in February he took out the $30,000 NZ St Leger, now in March he has the $90,000 Auckland Cup safely tucked away in his kennel. That looks ominous for April, where, as mentioned, the NZ Derby is now the focus race for the Turnwald team.

And yes, there seems be another pattern that is building for the Turnwald Group 1 greyhounds as she has now successfully mentored five greyhounds to win a race at the very elite level when carrying the blue racing vest. Ummmp one has to wonder what colour rug will be placed on Diddilee for his forthcoming big ticket engagements?

  
Ringside’s co-owner Faye Lockhart was presented with Auckland GRC provided specially inscribed Auckland Cup collar and lead by representatives from Miss Earth NZ 2018 and Mrs. Tourism World 2018, who were part of the Face of Beauty New Zealand Models who were special guests during the Auckland Cup meeting; Auckland President John Roberts is seen here presenting the Auckland Cup, while race day compere Tommy Thompson interviewed Paul Freeman following the Auckland Cup victory

By Peter Fenemor