PROMISES KEPT IN DIANA STAKES

Promises To Keep (SAF) found a strong finish to land the Gr 3 Diana Stakes over 1400m at Kenilworth on Saturday, seeing off Rexana (SAF), Rose Lipped Maiden (SAF) and Jet Goddess (SAF.)

Sparkling Gem (SAF) showed expected early pace to show the way from Rexana, Promises To Keep, Rose Lipped Maiden and Jet Goddess and none of the others was ever able to get into the race.

Sparkling Gem stuck gamely to her task in the straight and still had her nose in front approaching the furlong pole. She finally succumbed to the chasing pack in the closing stages with Rexana initially looking the most likely to land the spoils, but Promises To Keep dug down deep and ran them out of it late.

"She`s a very gutsy filly, a real trier," said trainer Basil Marcus afterwards. "She`s kept improving in what`s been a young career so far and just gotten better and better. I think she is a little bit stretched [over 1400m]. Lucky she had the tailwind behind her and the ground is soft so she did well to stay the 1400m." Referring to the inclement weather that has disrupted training schedules over the past few weeks, he said: "To be honest, we`ve only trotted the past five days. The aim will be to look at the [Cape] Fillies Guineas but we`ll have to see if she gets a mile."

Winning jockey Greg Cheyne said: "There was always a question about the trip. I had a good draw, I came out nicely but never had any cover which worried me a little bit over the first two furlongs. She switched off nicely into the turn. The horses have been out of work the last ten days which makes this win even better for us. I think she is stretched at this trip, but the way she dug down deep today, we might have to give her a crack at one of the others now. But I do think she will make a better sprinter."  

Promises To Keep was registering her third win from just five starts and with two placed efforts to go with that, she is clearly a cut above average.

The placed horses were not beaten too far and will find easier opportunities than this, while Sparkling Gem, who faded late into fifth, should not be discounted either as she was having her first essay beyond a sprint distance.

Promises To Keep is a 3-year-old filly by Windrush (USA) out of Pledge by West Man (USA). She is owned by Messrs E A Braun, E G Bouwer, P S Loomes, D Murgatroyd and T Wilkes and was bred by Highlands Farms Stud (Pty) Ltd
Winning trainer: Basil Marcus