Grey filly Diablo Blanco (NZ) (Super Seth) will be out to gain some valuable black-type on Saturday when she heads to Riccarton Park to contest the Listed New Zealand Bloodstock Canterbury Belle Stakes (1200m).
The daughter of Super Seth, who carries the Milan Park silks of co-breeder and part-owner Tony Rider, won two of her five starts as a juvenile, including first-up this preparation over 1200m at Oamaru in July.
She was also fourth in the Gr.2 Wakefield Challenge Stakes (1100m), with that form being franked at Hastings last weekend where race winner Captured by Love was runner-up in the Gr.3 Gold Trail Stakes (1200m) behind star filly Alabama Lass, and runner-up Poetic Champion took out the Listed El Roca – Sir Colin Meads Trophy (1200m).
Didham was pleased with Diablo Blanco’s last start victory on the Riccarton Synthetic last month and said she has been working well at home in the lead-up to the weekend.
“She couldn’t have been more impressive last start on the synthetic and I think her work on Tuesday morning was the best I have seen,” he said.
Diablo Blanco has drawn barrier four on Saturday, with the track rated a Soft7 on Wednesday and rain is forecast in the lead-up to the weekend.
“I am more than happy with the good barrier draw going into Saturday,” Didham said. “We are due for some rain at Riccarton, so I don’t think a Soft or Heavy track will bother her. She is pretty versatile.”
Diablo Blanco is currently a $4.20 equal favourite with Te Akau Racing’s The Victress, and Didham said he is wary of the filly and her stablemates About Last Night ($6) and Dream Of The Moon ($7.50).
“There are three from Te Akau and one of them (Dream Of The Moon) we have already met – we won once and they beat us once. The other two ran first and second last week and they (Te Akau) are always going to be hard to beat.”
Out of a full-sister to Group One winner I Do, Diablo Blanco is a valuable broodmare prospect, and Didham is hoping to add to her value by gaining some black-type this weekend ahead of some bigger targets later this spring.
“She is really well bred so hopefully we can get some black-type with her and everyone will be happy,” he said.
“If she goes a really good race we will head to the Barneswood (Gr.3, 1400m) on the 12th of October.”
