No ifs, buts or Maybes for Diva
- Picket Fence
- 12 minutes ago
- 3 min read
Five-year-old mare Maybe Diva left no ifs, buts or maybes about her ability with another barnstorming performance to win the NZB Ready To Run Sale Trainers Series Rating 65 (1200m) at Riccarton Park on Saturday.
The Andrew Carston-trained five-year-old was last throughout the race, but she showed a tremendous turn of foot in the closing stages to win by half a length with her regular rider Brandon May in the saddle.
“Jeez, I didn’t think she would win at the 1200m, but she was impressive,” Carston said. “It was a really good win and she’s pretty exciting.
“She’s not the easiest mare, she’s highly strung, but Brandon rides a lot of her work, so he deserves to ride her on race day and he’s done a good job.”
Carston scratched the daughter of Swiss Ace at Ashburton earlier this month as she was under offer.
“It wasn’t the plan to run her yesterday, but I had to scratch her last time because we thought we had her sold, but that fell through, and this was the next best option,” he said.
That failed sale may well be a silver lining for Dargaville couple Graeme Allen and Diane Jensen, who bred, and race the mare.
“They’ve been there every start and they’re absolutely loving it and it’s so good to see,” Carston said.
Carston had yet to confirm a next start for Maybe Diva, but he said she would likely run during Cup Week.
“She will go to Cup Week, I don’t know where yet,” he said. “I won’t get too excited, there’s some good rating races worth good money, and we’ll just poke along.”
Carston was also represented on Saturday by Miss Twinkle, who finished second on debut in the Entain/NZB Insurance Pearl Series (800m) race for two-year-olds.
“I was super happy with her,” he said. “She’s just got better with every trial and she will continue to improve.
“The races get over further ground from now on and she’s an exciting filly.”
Miss Twinkle runs in the familiar colours of her owner Glenn Ritchie, who also owns the Carston-trained Miss Ziggy, who had a track gallop between races on Saturday.
“She’s on track for the 1000 Guineas in two weeks’ time,” he said. “I’m very happy with her work and she’s ticking along nicely.
“I think the Guineas has opened up a bit with Well Written winning the other day, and one thing in our favour is that we don’t have to travel, we’ve just got to go around the corner and they’re all coming from up north.”
Meanwhile, Carston was disappointed with the run of Say Satono, who finished last in the TAB Mile Trial Handicap (1400m) in which Stonybreck dislodged jockey Opie Bosson at the start.
The six-year-old mare had been on a path towards the Gr.3 Windsor Park Stud Canterbury Breeders’ Stakes.
“Her jockey (Joe Doyle) thought she might have got a check from the riderless horse, but she was very disappointing,” he said. “She has pulled up well though, which is the most important thing.
“We’ll just take a step back in grade and still find a race for her during Cup Week.”
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