DIAMOND FOR THE LAD?

DELAGO BROM juvenile, Delago’s Lad, has raced right into contention for the $1 million Blue Diamond Stakes-G1 at Caulfield on 26 February with a blistering victory at Sandown on Saturday.
Racing in the Routley’s Plate over 1000m, Delago’s Lad lowered the boom on the highly rated Boys on Tour and is now currently on the third line of betting for the Diamond.
This was only Delago’s Lad’s second start after finishing a length second to Sepoy in the Maribyrnong Trial Stakes-LR at Flemington, during which the Delago Brom colt copped a decent bump on jumping.
(Sepoy is now favourite for the Blue Diamond following a convincing victory on Australia Day).
Out of the Snaadee mare, Simulation, Delago’s Lad was bred by a couple of lads – the Holburt boys – with Ross Holburt’s Slickpix gracing this website with many of its photos.
Needless to say, Ross had a couple of photos of Delago’s Lad to share with us! (and none of them were blurry, despite Ross’ obvious thrill at Saturday’s victory).
The Holburts are actually banner boys for Delago Brom, racing three of his progeny to date with each of them winning.
Indeed, Simulation has paid three visits to Delago Brom with the first result being the NSW trained Brom’s Girl (8 wins), followed by John Smerdon’s developing stayer Delagation and now Delago’s Lad who could eclipse them all.
(Simulation visited Bel Esprit last spring).
Not surprisingly, Delago’s Lad was sold to John McArdle for $75,000 – over 10 times service fee – at the 2010 Inglis Melbourne Premier Yearling Sale and, as you can see from the accompanying photos, he looks to be worth every cent.
There’s no question that Delago Brom – an equine Adonis in his own right – can certainly stamp his stock.
According to Ross, Delago’s Lad will now tackle the $250,000 Inglis Premier at Mornington on 16 February: “All going well, he’ll then head to Caulfield for the Blue Diamond 10 days later.
“John (McArdle) also has the VRC Sires’ Produce Stakes-G2 in mind (12 March) but he’ll obviously need the run in between the Inglis Classic and VRC Sires’.”
Not bad Ross … using a $1 million race as a lead up!

Photos courtesy of Slickpix ... who else!!