The Tale Of The Cat mare was in stylish form at the Wingatui jumpouts on Tuesday, pulling away from fellow cup week contender Natuzzi to win the 800m jumpout by five lengths.
Wingatui trainer Steven Anderton said the 5yr-old ''popped a wee splint'' on her right front about three weeks ago.
''I think she might have given her leg a bit of a knock and sometimes that can cause a splint to come on,'' he said.
''For a week there, she was a wee bit tender on it.''
The mare, in the hands of Anderton's wife, Claire, for the jumpout, showed no effects from the minor setback, which ruled out Anderton's original plan of taking The Diamond One to Ashburton on Saturday.
''She's good as gold now. It looked really good this morning and she pulled up really good,'' he said.
''Touch wood, it won't be an issue, but at this stage it's looking really good.''
Natuzzi and The Diamond One are set to face each other once again when they meet in a track gallop on Melbourne Cup day at Wingatui next month.
''Paul was keen to with Natuzzi as well - it's a bit like a good trial with raceday conditions. She'll have a wee bit of a sweat up, so that will be good for her.''
However, whether they meet for a third time in the space of a month remains up in the air.
Anderton will consult the mare's owner/breeders, the Dennis brothers, in the next fortnight to finally nail down whether to tackle the $100,000 group 3 Stewards over 1200m or the $80,000 group 3 Breeders' Stakes over 1400m.
The Diamond One finished second behind Arietta in last year's Breeders' Stakes.
''I'm just not quite sure - I would love to have a go at the Stewards.
''Then I keep thinking we should be having a go at her own sex, the fillies and mares, so probably, in a couple of weeks, we'll make that decision.''
The Solitaire's immediate plans are much more clear-cut.
She will carry the top weight of 60kg in the $25,000 open 1600m at Ashburton on Saturday as her main preparation for the group 2 Coupland's Mile at Riccarton on November 12.
The schedule of a race at Wingatui in late September before a run at Ashburton in mid-October almost paid off in last year's Coupland's Mile, when The Solitaire flew late to run second to Scapolo by 1 lengths.
Anderton expects she will improve with the run from barrier 1.
''She'll get back a wee bit, and I just want to see her running on.
''I don't see her as a winning chance, as I just feel she'll need another race, but as long as she's hitting the line I'll be happy.
''She's very very well within herself. Another run and that'll just tidy her up for the Coupland's.''
