FOOTSTEPSINTHESAND won the Group 1 2000 Guineas nearly two decades ago, and the son of Giant’s Causeway (Storm Cat) is a multiple Group 1 sire since retiring to stud under the Coolmore Stud banner.

Three of his seven winners at the highest level have done so in South America, while Steinbeck has earned almost €1.2 million, Marianafoot had a quality field in arrears in the Group 1 Prix Maurice de Gheest, Shamalgan won the Group 1 Premio Vittorio di Capua, and Chachamaidee landed the Group 1 Matron Stakes at Leopardstown.

Now breeders can have access to a pattern-winning and Group 1-placed son of Footstepsinthesand thanks to Ciarán de Barra who retires Marie’s Diamond to Diamond Stud.

At the Curragh the Mark Johnston-trained Marie’s Diamond, as a two-year-old, stepped up on his second place finish in the Group 2 Gain Railway Stakes at the same venue to win the six-furlong Group 3 Jebel Ali Racecourse Anglesey Stakes in the fastest time recorded for a quarter of a century.

This was one of three juvenile victories for Marie’s Diamond who was runner-up to Land Force in the Group 2 Richmond Stakes, and fourth to Ten Sovereigns in the Group 1 Middle Park Stakes. Over the next few seasons Marie’s Diamond showed that he was sound and competitive, enjoyed listed wins over a mile, notably at Newmarket, and he was third in the Group 1 Queen Anne Stakes at Royal Ascot to Circus Maximus.

Mark Johnston paid tribute to Marie’s Diamond, and said: “Marie’s Diamond has the perfect blend of precocity and progression, and showed a special constitution that is rare in the modern thoroughbred” This is praise indeed from a man who believes that the thoroughbred is for racing, and he is not a man to shirk a challenge.

Purchased by Federico Barberini as a yearling, Marie’s Diamond is one of six winners for his dam Sindiyma (Kalanisi). She is also responsible for Sikandarabad (Dr Fong), a listed winner in Australia and group-placed down under for Zhang Yuesheng. Their dam Sindiyma won at three and is a full-sister to Sindirana, the Listed Lingfield Oaks Trial winner and dam of a dual listed winner in Sirrin (Sea The Stars).

Sindirana is more recently the grandam of Sonaiyla (Dark Angel), and she won the Group 3 Ballyogan Stakes and placed in the Group 1 Flying Five Stakes.

Sindiyma is a daughter of listed winner Sinntara (Lashkari) and thus a half-sister to Sinndar (Grand Lodge), the Aga Khan’s dual Derby winner who was triumphant in the Group 1 National Stakes at two and capped his three-year-old season with victory in the Group 1 Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe. He sired Group 1 winners Shareta, Youmzain, Rosanara and Shawanda.

Ciarán de Barra is embarking on a new venture with Marie’s Diamond, investing heavily in a stallion and standing him in Co Meath. He had the striking individual available to view during the Tattersalls December Sale, and welcomed breeders also during the ITM Stallion Trail.

Race record

MARIE’S DIAMOND (IRE), Bay or Brown horse, 2016. Won 7 races, value £367,461, at 2 to 5, from 5 furlongs to 1 mile, Anglesey Stakes, Curragh, Gr.3, Pomfret Stakes, Pontefract, L., Paradise Stakes, Newmarket, L., also placed second in Richmond Stakes, Goodwood, Gr.2, Railway Stakes, Curragh, Gr.2, Earl of Sefton Stakes, Newmarket, Gr.3, Pomfret Stakes, Pontefract, L., Zabeel Turf, Meydan, L. and third in Queen Anne Stakes, Ascot, Gr.1, Strensall Stakes, York, Gr.3, Superior Mile, Haydock, Gr.3, Lady Wulfruna Stakes, Wolverhampton, L., Surrey Stakes, Epsom, L. and James Seymour Stakes, Newmarket, L.

At stud

Retired to stud in 2024.

Information

Stands at: Diamond Stud, Newhaggard, Bellewstown, Co. Meath, Ireland

Contact: Ciarán de Barra

Telephone: +353 (0)87 6266342

Email: info@diamondstudbellewstown.ie

Web: www.diamondstudbellewstown.ie

Fee: €6,000