The first career win by Diamonds'n'rubies at Northam on Thursday was the perfect tonic for frustrated trainer Mitchell Pateman and he hopes it can be the springboard to more success with Lord Shiva at Bunbury on Saturday.
Under Holly Watson, Diamonds'n'rubies led, kicked and ran her rivals ragged to score by nearly three lengths from Ankareeda with Think Quick running hard for third in the Save The Date Northam Cup-26 October Maiden (1300m).
Diamonds'n'rubies, who took full advantage of her inside draw from barrier one, continued the hot run of boom local sire, Maschino, and posted her first success at start five after debuting at Ascot last December.
Following a virus that swept through his stable and nearly a month between wins, dating back to Flying Frankie at Pinjarra, Pateman's self-doubt was growing, leaving him to ponder when the next win would come.
“We’ve had a horror run,” Pateman said.
“A virus went through the joint and wiped half the horses out.
“I wasn’t really sure what I was doing until now.
“But very glad to get a winner.”
Pateman says there’s a future there for Diamonds'n'rubies, he has something to work with, particularly now that she’s ticked off the 1300m box.
“We’ve always had a pretty good opinion of her,” Pateman said.
“That’s why we threw her into the deep end at her first two starts.
“I think this prep I probably took a run too long to get her out.
“Now that we’ve got her out to 1300m, it showed how good she can be.”
Meanwhile, Paterman said he would get further intelligence on Lord Shiva in the Greenfields Lodge Handicap (1000m).
What he knows to this point is that he’s gone bang, bang at his first two appearances for Pateman after crossing from Adam Durrant’s team and looks a likely type.
A third straight win under Pateman looked in his keeping down the Pinjarra straight two weeks ago, but Empress Of India snuck up on his inside and got the result by a narrow head margin.
Lord Shiva goes up against Want A Winner, aptly named as the three-year-old colt from Sean and Jake Casey’s yard is unbeaten and favourite to make it four in a line.
Pateman said Lord Shiva is not at his best in straight races and would relish going around a corner at Bunbury.
“I didn’t want to run him in a straight race,” Pateman said.
“The way the program panned out I had to go there.
“I believe he is a lot better horse around a corner.
“It should suit him and it will be his toughest test to date.
“He gets a little bit of weight relief, around a corner and a good barrier.
“If he turns up in the same form as he has in his first three starts, he should be in the finish.”
Want A Winner is the $3.60 favourite, Desert Whisper is $5 and Lord Shiva $5.60.
Julio Santarelli