Castletown Stud graduate Rough Diamond (5g Starspangledbanner – Good To Follow, by Kyllachy) ran out a smart winner of Saturday’s six furlong sprint at Naas.
A debut winner of a Curragh maiden as a three-year-old, the Edward Lynam-trained bay had since performed well in defeat, including when finishing second on last month’s seasonal return. Partnered by Shane Crosse at Naas, he chased the leaders and was going well when leading after the two furlong pole. Ridden approaching the final furlong, he kept on well to win by two and a quarter lengths.
Speaking after the race, Lynam said, “That was nice and Rough Diamond did it well. He won a maiden first time out, which is very unlike one of mine, and suffered then as he got a lofty rating. He’s getting the hang of sprinting now.”
Rough Diamond was foaled and raised at Castletown Stud on behalf of Lynam and Trevor Dalzell, who both race the son of Starspangledbanner. Castletown Stud also raised his siblings, the highly-rated sprinters Magic Bear and Tide Of Time.