Talented three-year-old Gypsy Diamond has overcome a poor start to win the Group 3 Carbine Club Stakes (1600m) at Royal Randwick on day 1 of The Championships this afternoon.

Allocated the ideal barrier 6 for the Carbine Club Stakes, Gypsy Diamond had a lot of work to do early after missing the starting, moving forward over the back straight to settle within the pack behind early leaders O’Reilly’s Revenge, Liberty’s Choice and Ryker.

Appearing to be out of contention when blocked for a run in the final straight, jockey James McDonald found a small gap between runners for the Not A Single Doubt filly, breaking through to find the line two lengths in the clear of rank outsider Casino Dancer and Rock Sturdy.

Trainer John O’Shea was understandably pleased with Gypsy Diamond’s ability to overcome the poor start, crediting James McDonald for a brilliant ride.

“It was a really good effort” O’Shea said following the Carbine Club Stakes.

“Things didn’t quite go to plan early but as James does, he never panics and got the job done.

“He’s going well and another great execution from James.

“She’s been going well all prep and loves being at Randwick” O’Shea said of the talented filly.

In-form jockey James McDonald delivered a sensation ride on Gypsy Diamond in the Carbine Club Stakes, securing his second victory with the three-year-old after claiming the Group 2 Don’t Hold Back F Classic (1600m) in October.

“I’ve had a lot of luck in these colours; it’s good to put them on” McDonald said after the race.

“She’s a very dominant filly, her form has been outstanding and her trial was outstanding.

“I didn’t have a lot of options; just kept tagging up and pinching ground. The result was good.”

Covered in mud and sod after dismounting Gypsy Diamond, McDonald said the soft conditions of the Royal Randwick track made for a particularly testing race.

“It’s very hard work – it’s like riding in a 2000 metres race but it was only a mile, but we’re lucky to be here on a great horse with great horses” McDonald said.

An appearance in next weekend’s major Group 1 Queen Of The Turf Stakes (1600m) now appears the likely target for Gypsy Diamond this season.

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2014 Carbine Club Stakes Results

Finish	No.	Horse	Trainer	Jockey	Margin	Bar.	Weight	Starting Price
1	1	GYPSY DIAMOND	John O’Shea	James McDonald	–	5	57kg	$2.70F
2	12	CASINO DANCER	Mike Van Gestel	Chad Schofield	2L	6	54kg	$26
3	8	ROCK STURDY	Joseph Pride	Hugh Bowman	2.5L	11	56kg	$6
4	4	LIBERTY’S CHOICE	Gai Waterhouse	Tommy Berry	3L	4	56kg	$13
5	7	MALICE	Peter Snowden	Kerrin McEvoy	3.1L	8	56kg	$7.50
6	6	RYKER	Gai Waterhouse	Tim Clark	3.6L	3	56kg	$31
7	13	CAST IN STONE	Bart & James Cummings	Craig Williams	5.1L	7	54kg	$31
8	5	GAMBLESTOWN (NZ)	Guy Walter	Jim Cassidy	6.1L	1	56kg	$15
9	10	O’REILLY’S REVENGE (NZ)	Bede Murray	Blake Shinn	6.5L	10	56kg	$31
10	2	EQUATOR	Gai Waterhouse	Nash Rawiller	11.3L	9	56kg	$7
11	3	SINJOREN	Peter Snowden	Christian Reith	16.6L	2	56kg	$17