Beauty Diva too quick
Speedy filly Beauty Diva proved too quick for her juvenile rivals in the opening event at Pukekohe.
The Clinton Isdale trained two-year-old had impressed when winning a 620m trial at
Te Teko last month after blundering badly out of the barrier that day.
The Showcasing filly dwelt at the start again at Pukekohe, but soon powered along the inner to dispute the pace with the well fancied Maybeashowoff and race favourite Jager Bombed, who was forced to race threewide throughout.
Beauty Diva hugged the rail to establish a break on her rivals early in the run home, which she clung to bravely, to hold out the fast finishing runnerup First Rock in a slick 44.61 seconds for the 800m dash.
“She was slow away in her trial but she finished off strong and was a bit slow away again today,” Isdale said.
“There’s plenty of upside to her as the things she does on the track at home are just unbelievable. We don’t gallop her hard but she’s always had plenty on good horses that we’ve got.
“I’m just glad to get that out of the way so we can put her away now and hopefully get her into the Karaka Million.”
Isdale was quick to praise former Te Awamutu trainer Graeme Sanders who had provided him with some sage advice regarding his intentions with the filly. Ironically it is Sanders’ daughter, Debbie Sweeney, who prepares runner-up First Rock.
“I’ve got to pay a big tribute to Graeme Sanders,” he said. “He told me to have her ready but to just wait. I was going to go to Wanganui with her but held off for this race as I knew it qualified her (for the Karaka Million).
“I just had those words ringing in the back of my head, to be patient with her, so I’d like to thank him for that piece of advice.”
Beauty Diva is the granddaughter of Gr.3 Centaine Stakes (2000m) winner Ketchikau who was the dam of useful South Island sprinter Ketchiben. She was an $11,000 purchase from the Book 3 session at the 2018 National Yearling Sale.
The $14,000 winning stake from Sunday’s contest has her well placed to qualify for the Karaka Million (1200m) that will be run at Ellerslie on January 26.
Three-year-old Reliable Man gelding Hypnos got up to score on debut in the Michael Ormsby/ Bernard Booth 3YO (1200m) at Waipukurau.
It was a satisfying win for his connections.
The Roger James and Robert Wellwood-trained runner settled off the pace under jockey Jason Waddell before making up a stack of ground in the home straight, closing late to snatch victory from Satu Lagi by a long neck.
“We have always really liked the horse,” Wellwood said.
“In his second trial he just did a lot of things wrong, he got right up on the bridle.
“He came here today and we would have been happy just seeing him do the right thing and he has certainly done that.
“Ron (Dixon, owner) has been a great supporter of the stable, he has had some good horses and hopefully this is the next one.
“I have just got off the phone with Roger and he said it has to be one of his most satisfying wins for a long time.”