Trainer Michael Grantham says Diamond Scene can keep his Perth Cup (2400m) momentum going when he attempts to win the second leg of a feature double at Ascot on Saturday.
Diamond Scene will tackle the G.A.Towton Cup (2200m), a critical Perth Cup lead-up race, against ten other rivals, nearly a month after scoring a breakthrough stakes win in in the Listed Luckygray Stakes (1800m).
Diamond Scene is building a body of work under Michael Grantham’s guidance, scoring six of his seven wins since teaming up with the former jockey and holds current Perth Cup favouritism with Tabtouch in their all in market.
Grantham says his So You Think gelding is a horse on the rise and thinks the step-up in distance from the Luckygray Stakes to the Towton Cup off a month between runs will not pose a threat to his winning chances.
“He’s done everything right in between,” Grantham said on Tabradio.
“He’s a very good horse on the rise and I think he races better fresh.
“He’s a bit of a sensitive soul behind the scenes, but he does love his work.
“I know it’s an extra 400m off the 1800m, but he’s got big lungs and is proven at those sort of distances.”
Diamond Scene’s distance rise isn’t a concern to Grantham, but barrier 11 is a minor worry.
He expects jockey Clint Johnston-Porter to play the waiting game before closing strongly.
“I’d assume the plan in his head is to be back and come hard late,” Grantham said.
“I know he has a good turn of foot, if he can get a nice free flow from the 1000m or half mile, I think they’ll know he’s in it.”
Diamond Scene is $4.40 in the Towton Cup, sandwiched between market leader In Good Order $4.20 and Buckets Ridge $4.60.
Meanwhile in the Schweppes Handicap (2200m), Grantham will have two chances of grabbing the prize with Affluential and Arcadia Knight.
He’s pinning his faith in Affluential showing improvement and rebounding from his previous display when last to Candlelight Supper.
Affluential is $16 and Arcadia Knight, who Grantham says has been up for a while, is $6 with online betting sites.
