Taimate Diva provided her breeders/owners David and Paul Hickman with a special win in the Speight’s Maiden (1600m) at Riccarton on Saturday.
Given a gem of a ride by Tina Comignaghi, Taimate Diva jumped well from barrier three settling in behind the leader, Grandiloquent, coming outside the leader to kick away and win by one-and-a-quarter lengths on the line.
The three-year-old filly is the first horse bred by brothers David and Paul Hickman and the first thoroughbred winner for their Taimate Equine brand.
Based in Ward, Marlborough, the Hickman’s are fourth generation Angus bull farmers who have diversified into the wine and racing industries.
“I was really happy to get a win for the Hickmans and she’s the first thoroughbred foal they’ve bred and raced so they’re off to a good start,” trainer Andrew Carston said.
“She’s taken a bit of time as she’s a massive filly but she’s progressive. I’ll have to find another race for her between now and then but I’m aiming her at the final legs of the NZB Southern Filly of the Year Series at Riccarton in April.”
The Listed NZB Insurance Stakes (1600m) takes place on April 9 with the Listed New Zealand Bloodstock Warstep Stakes (2000m) on April 23, the first race of the series, the Listed New Zealand Bloodstock Canterbury Belle Stakes (1200m) was won by Taimate Diva’s stablemate Art De Triomphe in September.
Taimate Diva is by Telperion out of the six-time race winning mare Iffraaj mare Mistaar and Carston also has an unnamed two-year-old sister and yearling half-sister by Eminent in the stable, both bred and raced by Taimate Equine.
Carston said it was a frustrating day when it came to placings with Dubai Lady beaten a head in the NZB Insurance Pearl Series Race (1200m) and O’Jude just missing out in the Kevin Daly Mowers Rating 65 (1400m).