Stack and Hayes land Gladness

In the words of winning rider Chris Hayes the Group 3 Gladness Stakes developed into "a three and a half furlong sprint," but we got a rousing finish as Diamond Fields got up to prevail at Naas.

The big two in the betting, Alice Springs and Blue De Vega looked like they'd fight it out inside the final two.

However Fozzy Stack has his string in great order and Diamond Fields, placed a couple of times in American Graded contests, produced a whirlwind finish inside the final furlong.

The Fastnet Rock filly got up to gain the day by half a length and the same from Alice Springs and Blue De Vega.

There was a length and three parts and a length back to the two others participants, Smash Williams and Gordon Lord Byron

Fozzy Stack stated: "He gave her a very good ride as she doesn't kill herself when she gets to the front.

"She was a little bit unlucky last year in the Sandringham, and in America the saddle slipped one day and she also finished third in a Grade 2 in Saratoga.

"It lashed rain beforehand and the ground was very slippy. She ran well at Belmont on her last start behind a very smart filly, and probably didn't just get the 1m1f that day.

"She's smart and may come back here for the Athasi, and then maybe Ascot, although there is another race back in New York around that time so we'll have to see where we go.

"I'm very pleased for the owner, Mary Slack. It's the biggest winner she has had in Ireland or England. She is a good supporter of the yard, and has a stud farm down in South Africa so I'm sure she will breed off her at some stage."

W.M. Lordan, rider of Gordon Lord Byron trained by T.Hogan, reported to the Clerk of Scales that his mount ran too keen.

(AM & EM)