KEY POINTS:
Diamond Deck is a magnificent mare in terms of both body shape and ability.
Unfortunately, she's also so prone to injury and accident that she's heart-attack material for an owner.
A million dollars is a lot for any racehorse to earn.
Had things gone to plan for Diamond Deck, she could easily have passed the million mark.
Instead, she's had just six race starts and earned $130,039 - not inconsiderable, but a fraction of her potential.
Trainer Robert Priscott and owner Dick Karreman are hoping tomorrow's $100,000 Postponed at Stoney Bridge Stakes at Hawera will be the point at which Diamond Deck turns her career around.
It's a career so far that's allowed her to push Masked Assassin to a long head in the A$250,000 ($283,000) Sires Produce as a juvenile in Queensland.
Things went wrong when she was fancied to take the group one A$500,000 TJ Smith at 1600m at her next start, those problems being underlined by the fact Masked Assassin took the big race.
Sadly, she has had only two runs since, winning the Highview Stakes a year ago and finishing down the track three weeks ago at Counties when resuming.
In keeping with her luck, Diamond Deck had issues going into that race, but Robert Priscott was at least hopeful the camp's last-ditch bid to gain a spot in the $2 million Kelt Capital Stakes would pay dividends.
"I thought she'd done her work, but the pressure of raceday found her out.
"She showed that around at the start and then raced fiercely without cover."
This time Priscott has the luxury of taking Diamond Deck to a race with an uninterrupted preparation.
"She's gone right on since the Pukekohe run and we hope she can show her best.
"We know what she can produce and we'll be very happy if she shows that."
The Hawera track, on the southern side of Mt Taranaki and therefore protected from the predominantly northerly weather lately, was yesterday rated just a dead 6. And the Diamond Deck camp is hoping for further track improvement.
"The better the footing, the better her chances," says Priscott.
The 1400m is a shade short of Diamond Deck's best - 1600m would be preferred - but Hawera can favour swoopers and Diamond Deck has a remarkable finishing sprint when in form.
Ististar's form on paper might look ordinary, but she looks a major threat.
She is a 1400m specialist - six of her nine wins have been at the distance - and her effort behind Gaze, albeit six lengths away, held merit.
She returns to her own sex tomorrow.
Her effort two starts back was even better when she finished just 4.25 lengths off Ritzy Boy in the $250,000 Mudgway Partsworld Stakes.
Track conditions will not be a problem for Ististar - she has won on good, dead, slow and heavy surfaces.
Insouciant is also dropping way back in class, having finished 2.75 lengths from Fritzy Boy in the Mudgway then 5.5 lengths behind Princess Coup in the Stoney Bridge Stakes.
Insouciant is at her best when she can lead and dominate and if she's allowed to pinch a break approaching the home bend, she could take plenty of catching.
Keepa Cruisin, Ebony Babe and Irlanda help build an impressive profile for this race.
Keepa Cruisin received a check at a vital stage when unplaced behind turf queen Princess Coup in the Stoney Bridge and should get a much better run from the inside draw. Ististar's stablemate was right near the top of the class among last season's best 3-year-old fillies and should be near her best after three starts since resuming.
Ebony Babe was a surprise winner in a quality field at Ellerslie last month and, as a late-blooming 5-year-old, looks ready to fulfil the promise she has always shown.
$100,000 STAKES SHOWDOWN
* Diamond Deck is one of the country's smartest racehorses, but has had a career littered with setbacks.
* She proved to be too fresh for her resuming run at Pukekohe three weeks ago.
* For the first time in a long while, trainer Robert Priscott has been able to fit the mare for tomorrow's feature without interruption.
* The better the Hawera track, the better her chances.
