Third Stakes victory for G1 winner Royal Diamond

Royal Diamond (King's Best) took one step closer to recording back-to-back victories in the G1 Irish St Leger in three weeks’ time when putting up an impressive performance to land the G3 Irish St Leger Trial Stakes at The Curragh in Ireland.

Sent straight to the front under jockey and trainer Johnny Murtagh, the seven-year-old was allowed to dictate the pace throughout the race and despite being strongly challenged by Voleuse De Coeurs (by fellow Darley stallion Teofilo), found plenty in the closing stages and won by half a length.

This was the second Stakes win this year for Royal Diamond, who won the Listed Challenge Stakes by almost four lengths on his seasonal reappearance last month.

Bred by Moyglare Stud Farm, Royal Diamond is out of the G2-winning Danehill mare Irresistable Jewel – also dam of Street Cry’s 2012 Ribblesdale Stakes winner and Darley Irish Oaks third Princess Highway, plus fellow G1 performer Mad About You.

King’s Best, who stood at Darley in Japan for the first time this year, is also sire of Japan Derby and Tenno Sho winner Eishin Flash, Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe winner Workforce, plus Sajjhaa – winner of two G1 races in Dubai this year.