Carston’s mares shine at Riccarton

Trainer Andrew Carston celebrated two wins at his home track of Riccarton on Saturday, with two promising mares resuming in perfect fashion.

Maybe Diva was the first to salute in the Speight’s Summit Ultra On Tap Maiden (1400m). The five-year-old daughter of Swiss Ace was having her first start for Carston, and just her second career start, having transferred from the northern stable of Sophia Nolan after finishing fifth at Ellerslie on debut in May.

Andrew Carston pictured with Maybe Diva, Lexi Porteous, Diane Jensen and Graeme Allen.

Ridden by Brandon May, Maybe Diva settled in midfield from barrier four, but found herself at the rear as they rounded the bend. Forced wide, she stormed home impressively to win by two lengths.

“She trialled nicely last week so I was confident without being super confident,” Carston said. “I thought she’d run well and improve a heap, but It was a very good win.

“She’s not easy, she has a few issues, but Brandon rides her every day, so he knows her pretty well, he deserved the ride, and he did a good job.”

The win was made all the sweeter for Carston, with her breeder/owners Graeme Allen and Diane Jensen on course to watch, having travelled down from Dargaville for the occasion.

“It was great to get her on the board and nice to have Graeme and Diane, who bred her and race her there to see it, they decided last night to jump on a flight down.”

Carston also gave credit to former top trainer Stephen McKee who put Maybe Diva on his radar.

Later on the card, Say Satono brought up a double for Carston, winning the Stallion Tender Now Open Rating 75 (1200m), under a confident ride by Kylie Williams. The win was the 994^th victory of Williams’ career.

Say Satono and strapper Lexi Porteous pictured with Kylie Williams and connections.

“Say Satono is a little star,” Carston said. “She’s back, she’s always been a pretty handy mare but we’ve learnt that she does need good ground, I’ve run her on some off tracks and she just doesn’t perform the same.

“She trialled really well last week too and Kylie was confident. I thought she won really well.”

The six-year-old daughter of Satono Aladdin has now won five and placed in three of her 20 starts and Carston has black-type ambitions for her this season with the Gr.3 Windsor Park Stud Canterbury Breeders’ Stakes on November 12, in his sights.

“Hopefully we can work backwards from the Breeders’ Stakes on the middle day of Cup Week. It would be nice to get a bit of black-type with her, Rich Hill have given us another year’s extension on her lease.”

Carston was also happy with the run of Miss Ziggy who finished third behind Belle Du Monde and Cool Aza Rene, in the NZ Horse Ambulance Appeal Three-Year-Old (1000m).

The three-year-old daughter of Brazen Beau made a big impression as a two-year-old last season, finishing fourth in the Gr.2 Happy Hire Wakefield Challenge Stakes and third in the Listed Karaka Millions 2YO.

“I was happy with her today,” he said. “I didn’t think she was sharp enough to beat them over 1000m and she raced pretty fresh. She will improve with that run, she’ll go on to the Canterbury Belle in two weeks’ time and she’ll be a better horse.”

To watch a replay of Maybe Diva's win click here.

To watch a replay of Say Satono's win click here.