Diamond Rain misses out by a head in G1 E P Taylor Stakes

Diamond Rain put up an excellent performance on her North American debut as she closed powerfully to go down by a head to She Feels Pretty in the G1 E P Taylor Stakes at Woodbine, Canada on Saturday, 16 August. 

The Charlie Appleby-trained four-year-old, making a first top-level appearance on the back of Listed and G3 wins in the UK, lacked the gate speed of her six rivals and found herself in a clear last early on, some eight lengths off the lead. 

Diamond Rain took closer order up the inner rail to dispute fifth down the back before creeping up to take fourth as the field bunched entering the far turn. 

She Feels Pretty cruised up around Hurricane Clair and Caitlinhergrtness turning in and took up the running on the bridle early in the straight. William Buick switched out Diamond Rain to track She Feels Pretty and the daughter of Shamardal stayed on strongly to go second a furlong and a half from home. 

Having kicked into a three-length advantage over a furlong out, She Feels Pretty wandered around inside the final furlong, with Diamond Rain eating into her lead with every stride. The post came just in time for She Feels Pretty, who notched her fifth G1 win, as the front two pulled 10 and a half lengths clear of Ready For Shirl in third. 

Charlie Appleby said: “Diamond Rain has run a great race and was just beaten by a very good filly in She Feels Pretty. I’m not sure where we will go next, as I feel that Del Mar might be a bit too tight for her, which rules out the Breeders’ Cup. We might look at something back in Europe during the autumn, with a bit of juice in the ground.”