In an extraordinary training achievement, Vivy Air has completed a lucrative double by winning the $2 million Five Diamonds at Rosehill just days after her impressive second placing in the Big Dance.
Remarkable Week Yields $1.7 Million
The Ciaron Maher-trained mare enjoyed an incredibly profitable week, collecting $600,000 for her second placing at Randwick on Tuesday before adding another $1.155 million first prize in Saturday's 1800m Rosehill feature. This took her total earnings for the week to an astonishing over $1.7 million.
Vivy Air demonstrated exceptional toughness to thrive on the quick turnaround, diving along the fence to capture Saturday's prestigious event in a thrilling finish.
Training Masterpiece Pays Off
Maher's assistant trainer Jo Gerard-Dubord expressed delight at the result, highlighting the difficulty of backing up from Tuesday's performance. "It's a great result, a great prizemoney race and backing up from Tuesday into today, it's not easy to do. She is very tough," Gerard-Dubord said.
The team had kept Vivy Air fresh for Saturday with a trip to the beach and a quiet week, with the strategy paying dividends. "She has been finding it hard to win every now and then but two starts ago she got her head in front and that gave her some confidence," Gerard-Dubord added.
Jones's Dashing Ride Seals Victory
Jockey Reece Jones played a crucial role in the victory, saving valuable ground along the fence before the mare darted through to snatch victory by a long head. Starting at $5.50, Vivy Air defeated the $3.80 favourite Transatlantic, who never shirked his task, with Militarize ($4) close up another half-head away.
Jones admitted to some early concerns during the race, revealing "When I was so far back early, she wasn't travelling all that well for me. I was a little bit worried. I was thinking she might not have backed up, then it made me look silly."
The victory marked another successful chapter for the Ciaron Maher stable, demonstrating their expertise in preparing horses for back-to-back major performances.
