Coolmore shuttler Aussie Rules became the first freshman to sire a stakes winner in Europe this year when Dinkum Diamond was successful in the Listed National Stakes at Sandown on Thursday.

Dinkum Diamond (2c Aussie Rules – Moving Diamonds by Lomitas) had won on debut at Salisbury and made it two-from-two from Chilworth Lad (Diktat) and Cape To Rio (Captain Rio).  Always travelling strongly in behind the leaders, he quickened impressively under Dane O’Neill to bound clear of his rivals up the stiff Sandown hill to score a comprehensive victory.

Trainer Henry Candy, renowned for his handling of top-class sprinters such as Kyllachy, has big plans for his unbeaten colt.  “He will go to Ascot now for the Group 2 Norfolk Stakes,” Candy said.  “They went a hell of a gallop and it was nice to see Dane swinging off him.”

Aussie Rules was represented by his first winner when Chinese Wall scored on debut at Maisons-Laffitte in April.  Emma’s Gift was his second winner at Bath on May 12 and the following day Dinkum Diamond won on debut in the TurfTV Maiden Stakes.

Private Jet (2c Aussie Rules – Norwegian Princess by Fairy King) was his fourth individual winner when scoring by 2.5 lengths  in the Prix de la Tour des Dames (1100m) at Saint-Malo on May 23.

Dinkum Diamond is the first foal of a winning half-sister to the trans Atlantic winners Moving Diamonds and Shogun Empire.  Second dam Euro Empire (USA) was a high-class Group 1 performer in the United States.

It’s no surprise to see the Aussie Rules youngsters make an early impression on the racecourse.  He was himself a stakes winning juvenile, taking out the G3 Sommerville Tattersalls Stakes before progressing on to G1 victories in the French 2000 Guineas and Shadwell Mile at Keeneland Classic.

Aussie Rules’ eldest Australian progeny are yearlings and have been well received by some the best judges in Australasia, with Les Samba forking out $90,000 for a colt from Zena’s Warrior at the Magic Millions in January, while Mike Moroney went to $100,000 to secure a colt from Unzipped at the Melbourne Premier Sale.

Aussie Rules is a Danehill grey and stands for a 6,000 euros fee at Coolmore Ireland and is available for a $8,800 fee at Coolmore Australia in 2010.