8 wins & $393,500 in prize-money

Currently in training, Diamond Jim is an attractive bay son of Encosta de Lago, out of our stakes-winning mare, Tarcoola Diamond. With an impressive physique to match a great pedigree, he was sold at the 2009 Inglis Easter Yearling Sale for $250,000.

Trained by David Payne at Rosehill, Diamond Jim was placed at Warwick Farm over 1300 metres on debut (starting favourite) behind Giresun. Diamond Jim progressed through a frustrating 2 year old campaign of finishing close to the mark, but being unable to find success. It was not until his 3 year old preparation that he finally broke through for his first win, scoring decisively by 2.8 lengths at Warwick Farm over 1600 metres – then following up 11 days later with a dead-heat at the same track and distance.

With David Payne now setting him for middle-distance/staying events, Diamond Jim found success at the Randwick Kensington track, winning  by 2.3 lengths over 2400 metres – followed by a string of metropolitan minor-placings before winning again at Canterbury by 1.8 lengths over the demanding trip of 2800 metres.

His subsequent campaign saw him often go close to winning, finishing several times with minor placings in tight finishes.

After the benefit of the longest spell of his career, Diamond Jim resumed on the 4th of May 2013 at Newcastle over 1600 metres. Few took note of his proven capabilities first-up and he started at $12.00 – though odds are not always a true indication and he stormed through a gap with young apprentice Courtney Van Der Werf guiding him to his 5th career victory.

After a series of unplaced runs on wet tracks, Diamond Jim finished the 2012-2013 racing year in style, finally finding himself on a dry track at Warwick Farm in the TAB Rewards Handicap (2400 metres). Ridden by champion jockey Nash Rawiller, the pair combined for a 3 length victory to give Nash an unassailable lead on the jockeys’ premiership and presenting Nash with his third Sydney jockeys’ title. A day of double celebration.

Now a fully matured and powerful 6 year old, it is highly likely that Diamond Jim will continue to add to his list of career victories through the remainder of 2013 and beyond.

In 2014, now in the care of trainer Robbie Laing, Diamond Jim brought up his 7th career win in the 2400 metre Guinot Skincare Plate at Sandown Lakeside on the 11th of June, pushing his prize-money earnings in excess of $341k.

Backing up one week later on the Follow MRC TrackNews on Twitter Hurdle over 3300 metres on the Sandown Hillside circuit, Diamond Jim ran home an effortless 6 length winner – bringing up two wins in succession and stamping him as an exciting hurdle prospect.

Diamond Jim (2007)