Rebel Diamond, second right, has Rion Rubette's measure© Photo Healy Racing
Rebel Diamond (3/1f) wore down Rion Rubette to make the breakthrough in the extended five furlong in the Irish EBF Auction Series Maiden.
Rion Rubette (4/1) made a good go of it but, after a prolonged scrap with Rebel Diamond, the latter got up close home by a head under Billy Lee. Right And True (7/1) was three-parts of a length back in third.
Rebel Diamond wasn't winning out of turn having finished runner-up at Leopardstown and Sligo on his last two starts.
Craig Bryson, partner of Natalia Lupini and assistant trainer, said: “He was unfortunate in Sligo where he got stuck in a wee bit of traffic and had to come around them.
“Today’s straight six was fine and he’s a nice horse that is going the right way. Hopefully, he can keep improving.
“He toughed it out well and six is probably his trip.
“We hadn’t thought beyond today, but it’s a possibility that he could come back for the final of this series.
“He’s ground dependent and if it’s heavy ground it wouldn’t suit him.”
Additional reporting by Alan Magee
