The encouraging start to the stud career of Danehill’s G1 winning son Aussie Rules continued in England on Thursday when his colt Dinkum Diamond won on debut at Salisbury.

The win came a day after Aussie Rules filly Emma’s Gift won at Bath.  It takes the Coolmore freshman’s winner tally to three after he broke through with Chinese Wall at Maisons-Laffitte last month.

Dinkum Diamond (2c Aussie Rules – Moving Diamonds by Lomitas) won the TurfTV Maiden Stakes (1000m) by 1.5 lengths from Foghorn Leghorn (Medicean).  Jockey Dane O’Neill held him up towards the rear and then quickened smartly to take command in the final furlong.

He 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.

Emma’s Gift was just as impressive a day before Dinkum Diamond even though her winning margin was only a neck at Bath.  The grey filly powered home to collar short priced favourite Kojak in the run to the line and they pulled more than four lengths clear of the remainder.

Emma’s Gift is a daughter of the useful race filly Rose Of Mooncoin and was a bargain basement buy for trainer Julia Fielding, costing just 11,000gns at Book 3 of the Tattersalls October Yearling Sale.

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 scheduled to return to Coolmore Australia for the 2010 season, with his advertised fee of $8,800 (inc gst) looking good value in the context of his early success in Europe.