Sure they could hold one of these at the Vaal?

MASTERCRAFTSMAN faces 11 rivals when he warms up for the Breeders' Cup in the featured Group 3 Diamond Stakes at Dundalk on Friday evening.


Winning the race guarantees a spot in the Marathon, but as confirmed by Aidan O’Brien in the Racing Post on Friday, Mastercraftsman is being aimed at the Classic.


Stable companion’s Augustusthestrong and Man Of Iron also figure with the Charles O’Brien-trained Lord Admiral looking the main threat.


Re Barolo is the sole British-trained challenger in the 1m3f race worth €40,300 to the winning connections.

Hibby in a race like that Mastercraftsman must be 1/10?

1/4 scotia,K Latham is on the 2nd fav and is the king of Dundalk!

>>>> CARD

1/4 stealing money, 25% profit in a couple of minutes.

txs

King of Dundalk, dont care if it was the Queen of Sheeba

lol

Job well done stayed the trip really well,handled the surface..slueshed in!

Latham was second for the f/c

txs

Mastercraftsman cruises home in Diamond Stakes

Diamond Stakes (Group 3) AW, 1m2½f

ALL roads point to Santa Anita for Mastercraftsman after he won in the style expected of a 2-9 favourite, impressively cruising home under a hands and heels ride from Johnny Murtagh.

As stablemate Augustusthestrong and Via Galilei vied for position at the head of affairs, Murtagh was content to sit at the front of the following pack - some 15 lengths offthe pace - with Big Robert and Fiery Lad close up behind.


Favourite-backers may have felt slightly anxious when turning for home, with three and a half furlongs to run, the Breeders' Cup hope still had around 12 lengths to make up, but Murtagh was clearly just biding his time before asking Mastercraftsman for more.

When he did, the Aidan O'Brien-trained Group 1 winner obliged, pulling well clear of his rivals with only Fiery Lad (9-1) emerging from the pack to give chase - albeit in vain.


Five lengths was the official winning margin, though it could easily have been more. Augustusthestrong (25-1) was a further one anda half lengths back in third, with Man Of Iron (33-1) fourth.

Following his victory, O'Brien said: "Delighted with that. There was no pussy-footing around, they went a really good pace. We were a bit worried about the distance, but it is very hard to beat class.

"Johnny [Murtagh] was very cool on him and told me, when he asked him to close, he probably got to the front a bit too soon.

O'Brien added: "He handled the surface and that was what we wanted to find out. He'll definitely go to Santa Anita, probably for the Classic - though he's in the Mile too - as well as Rip Van Winkle."