MARY Slack’s four-year-old filly Diamond Fields ran on late late to claim top honours in the Gr3 Gladness Stakes over 1400m at Naas Racecourse in County Kildare, Ireland, on Sunday.

Aidan O’Brien’s triple Gr 1 winner Alice Springs was the 6-4 favourite on her seasonal reappearance in a small field and while she battled her way to the lead close home, she was  caught by Diamond Fields (9-2) and jockey Chris Hayes in the shadows of the post. There was half a length between them at the line.

The victory continues a fine start to the season for trainer Fozzy Stack, who this year took over the licence from his father, Tommy.

Stack said: “He gave her a very good ride as she doesn’t kill herself when she gets to the front. She was a little bit unlucky last year in the Sandringham at Royal Ascot and when she raced in America the saddle slipped one day.

“She also finished third in a Gr2 race at Saratoga. It lashed rain beforehand and the ground was very slippy. She ran well at Belmont on her last start behind a very smart filly, and probably didn’t just get the nine furlongs that day.

“She’s smart and may come back here for the Athasi, and then maybe Ascot, although there is another race back in New York around that time so we’ll have to see where we go.

“I’m very pleased for the owner Mary Slack. It’s the biggest winner she has had in Ireland or England. She is a good supporter of the yard and has a stud farm down in South Africa, so I’m sure she will breed off her at some stage.”