Following in famed dad’s hoofprints
TEN years after her dad made history by claiming the 150th Melbourne Cup, Yankee Diva is set to hit the Geelong racetrack today in her debut outing.
The daughter of French staying champion Americain, who created a slice of history in 2010 when he became just the second horse to win the Geelong-Melbourne cups double, saddles up for the 1250m Maiden in Race 1.
The $20,000 purchase, trained by Nigel Blackiston, has performed well in trials and while she has strong staying bloodlines through both her sire and dam, she is expected to put in a strong showing on the track her dad made his own a decade ago.
“She has trialled quite nicely over 1100m at Ballarat but there are some sharp ones there,” Blackiston said.
“The most important thing is to keep her balance and for her to be comfortable down the hill and then hopefully she will be working home doing her best late.
“Whether it is spring or autumn, whatever she does I think she is a nice staying filly in the making so we will see how far we can go with her.
“That is the thing with stayers. As Bart Cummings said, you just have to put the miles into them and see how they fare.”
Yankee Diva’s dam, Eternal Circle, also tasted success at Geelong, winning a 1000m race back in winter in 2014.
The daughter of Fastnet Rock was raced by prominent racehorse owner Gerry Ryan, who was a half-owner of Americain, but Blackiston said despite her strong pedigree, buyers had been put off by her noteworthy size.
“I think she is the tallest horse I have ever trained; at 18 hands, she is a monster,” he said.
“But I have been pleased with what she has shown me at home and whatever she does she will improve on with time and more distance obviously, but she is a nice style of filly and has a great attitude. I don’t mind big horses, as long as they are balanced and can walk. That is what we are looking for when we buy them at sales and she has a great attitude. I think as a middle distance horse as a three-year-old she could make a nice filly.”
Yankee Diva will be ridden by apprentice Will Price and is listed as a $9 hope.