Racing: Te Teko debut for blueblood

One of the most richly bred fillies in the country will make her raceday appearance at Whakatane Racing Club's meeting at Te Teko tomorrow.

Diamond Smile, a member of Graeme Rogerson and Stephen Autridge's team, will contest the $6000 Golden Grain Maiden (1200m) and her performance is sure to attract interest on both sides of the Tasman. Diamond Smile is a three-year-old sister to the country's highest-priced yearling, Don Eduardo, who fetched $3.6 million when sold at the 2000 National Yearling Sales at Karaka.

Don Eduardo, who is now standing at Haunui Farm, South Auckland, went on to win the group one Australian Derby and finish second in the group one Rosehill Guineas and third in the group one Australian Cup before heading to stud.

Diamond Smile (by Zabeel from the group one Railway Handicap winner Diamond Lover) is also a sister to the unraced sire I Conquer and group two winner Peruzzi and a three-quarter sister to dual group one winner Tristalove and stakeswinner Antwerp.

With such bloodlines Diamond Smile has been retained by her breeders, Sir Patrick and Lady Justine Hogan as a valuable broodmare prospect, but before going to stud she is being given her chance on the racetrack.

The filly began her career in Sydney where she was given a couple of trials by Gai Waterhouse. She finished fourth in a 740m 2-year-old trial at Randwick last June, then fifth in a 1050m trial on the same course last December. "Apparently she didn't take to the Aussie way of training, being boxed all day etc," Autridge said. "She got really worked up and actually bolted before one trial and played up in the barriers.

"She came to us about three months ago and we've taken her along quietly."

Diamond Smile finished third in her first trial for Autridge and Rogerson, then ran second, beaten a neck by Cheeky Devil, over 1200 metres at the Te Aroha trials on April 26. Taking the mount on Diamond Smile will be the country's leading and most controversial rider, Lisa Cropp.

Cropp will front a New Zealand Thoroughbred Racing judicial hearing on June 1 after producing a positive drugs test at the Waikato meeting on May 7.

Chief racecourse inspector John McKenzie has named the drug methamphetamine as the substance.

Cropp has denied allegations of drug taking, blaming the test result on "herbal pills" she purchased from a health shop in a bid to lose weight. If found guilty, Cropp could face up to 12 months' disqualification and a $10,000 fine.

- NZPA