Sam King picks out a horse who broke their maiden tag over the last seven days to follow...

Opera Ballo's stunning display on debut at Kempton is the obvious choice for our maiden of the week column, but he certainly hasn't gone unnoticed. Charlie Appleby's colt couldn't have been more impressive that day and has been introduced at 20/1 for the 2000 Guineas in May. However, just 24 hours later, a filly caught the eye when getting off the mark at the second time of asking at Chelmsford.

Karl Burke will have plenty of firepower in the three-year-old division this season, and while it's probably fair to say Diamont Katie will not be towards the top of the tree, she surely has a future going forward.

A £68,000 daughter of Acclamation, she fairly caught the eye when finishing fourth on debut at Southwell last month, leaving the impression the penny had dropped late on after being almost clueless from the gates under Clifford Lee.

Just fifteen days on from that promising debut effort, it was quickly evident that the initial experience she gained at Southwell was by no means lost on her, as she broke sharply from what can be a tricky inside stall at Chelmsford for inexperienced horses. Happy to take up the running from an early stage, Clifford Lee allowed his mount to use her natural speed, of which she appears to possess plenty, before asking her to quicken rounding the final bend.

There's no doubt she still looked green up much of the home straight, but that was the first time she'd ever been out in front on a racecourse, and you had to like the way she continued to find for her rider's urgings. The eventual runner-up and third-place horses were always close enough to get past if good enough, but neither could match the finishing kick Diamont Katie had as she drew clear for a comfortable one-and-a-half length success from Andrew Balding's newcomer Rescue Mission.

The third home had plenty of experience in the book and probably ran to a mark in the mid-60s, so it was hardly the strongest of maidens you'll see. However, with further improvement surely on the cards from the Middleham Park-owned Diamont Katie, it could prove fruitful to follow her going forward, especially if connections opt to look for an all-weather handicap in the coming weeks.