Take two for gambled-on Diamond Like A Diamond, the horse at the centre of controversy when withdrawn before his intended debut at Ballinrobe last month, is finally set to get his racing career underway at Dundalk on Sunday. The Antonius Pius gelding was the subject of a major gamble from 50/1 down to as low as 3/1 before being withdrawn by order of the stewards at Ballinrobe after they receiving a report from Turf Club senior security officer Chris Gordon. Gordon stated that the three-year-old was not trained at the registered licensed yard of Sharon Dunphy but at a different premises nearby. Ms Dunphy, who rents a number of boxes in Fethard, Co. Tipperary, technically accepted the evidence of Gordon on the day that the gelding was not trained from her licensed establishment and was therefore in breach of Rule 147(vi). The matter was referred on to the Turf Club and, while that referral has yet to be heard, the Turf Club are satisfied that Like A Diamond is now trained from Ms Dunphy’s yard. Declan McDonogh takes the mount on Sunday in the Bar One Racing Telebetting Maiden, where he will face 11 rivals.
