Cork jockey Wayne Lordan lands Grand Hotel Malahide Irish EBF Fillies Juvenile Race on Diamond Necklace

Wayne Lordan and the all-conquering Ballydoyle operation had something of a mixed afternoon at the Curragh. 

Lordan's recent golden spell continued when he landed the Grand Hotel Malahide Irish EBF Fillies Juvenile Race on Diamond Necklace. With the defection of overnight favourite Gstaad (reported off feed) from the day's featured Group One Keeneland Phoenix Stakes, Ryan Moore switched to Lordan's original mount True Love, who went to post the 1/4 favourite in this prestigious €350,000 contest. 

Lordan took the mount on 13/2 Ballydoyle second string Puerto Rico. There was a sting in the tail for Ballydoyle as Adrian Murray's Power Blue reversed Railway Stakes form with True Love, to cause a major upset in the featured Phoenix Stakes. 

Lordan had to settle for fourth on Puerto Rico who veered left after a tardy start out of stalls. 

He recovered to dispute the lead but faded approaching the final furlong. He's still a maiden and he looks like a horse crying out for a confidence booster in maiden company. He's undoubtedly the highest-rated two-year-old maiden in training at 103. You'd also expect him to prosper at seven furlongs going forward.

DIAMOND NECKLACE 

Lordan's excellent sequence for Ballydoyle continued at headquarters on the exciting newcomer Diamond Necklace in the €32,000 Grand Hotel Malahide Irish EBF Fillies Juvenile Race. 

In the process, she beat her more fancied stable companion Minerva, who cost £1,500,000 at the Tattersalls October Yearling Sale in 2024. Minerva is starting to look exposed after four starts and has just earned €12,400 in those outings. 

You sense she is improving and she can earn winning brackets sooner rather than later. Lordan was in a slight pocket two furlongs. He was forced to switch out, as she took control approaching the distance and stayed on well to win by a length and a half. 

The 15/8 Favourite Justicar was a major flop in seventh place.

BRED TO IMPROVE 

Lordan's winning mount is by St Mark’s Basilica who won the Dewhurst as a significant late improver as juvenile and he thrived as a three-year-old, winning the Poule d'Essai des Poulains, the Prix du Jockey Club and he also won the Eclipse Stakes and the Irish Champion Stakes. So she's bred to improve from two to three. 

Afterwards Aidan O'Brien nominated the Fillies Mile as a likely target and she's likely to have another outing before that. He also suggested the best of her will be seen next year. "She’s going to be lovely next year."

Bet 365 introduced her at 20/1 for next year's Oaks at Epsom and gave her a 25/1 quote for the 2026 1,000 Guineas at Newmarket. Incidentally Gstaad who missed the featured race here, remains 10/1 second favourite for next year's 2,000 Guineas with Bet 365 who have Albert Einstein as 8/1 market leader for that race.