Bargain Shamexpress Filly Salutes

Media Release - Thursday April 25

Ruakaka galloper Diva Express proved too swift for her two-year-old rivals when she took out the NZB Insurance Pearl Series Race (1200m) at Avondale on Thursday.

Diva Express - Trish DunnellPrepared by Ken Rae and daughter Krystal Williams-Tuhoro, the Shamexpress filly was the most experienced in the field having her sixth raceday start in the contest, a record that included a third in Listed company at Riccarton back in November.

Bounced to the front from a wide barrier by rider Vinnie Colgan, Diva Express travelled sweetly as she set a solid pace that had a number of her competitors off the bit approaching the home corner.

Under the urgings of Colgan, Diva Express found plenty in the run home as she held out the challenges of Showoroses and Grayvee in the closing stages to register her first career victory.

Rae was quick to praise the filly who he picked up for just $4,500 from the Mapperley Stud draft during Book 3 at Karaka last year.

"She is not the biggest horse in commission but I'd rather have a small horse with plenty of heart than a big one with no heart," he said.

"She's very tough and she just thrives on hard work.

"She has done most of her racing in the South Island and was probably a little too fresh when she ran at Riccarton last month.

"She over-raced a touch because of it so I said to Vinnie I didn't mind where she was today but to just get her to settle.

"He rated her nicely in front and she was just too good in the end."

With a victory under her belt now, Rae believes there could be more in store for Diva Express over the next few months.

"The way she has gone today I think she could figure in some of those good winter two-year-old races that are coming up," he said.

"Something like the Ryder Stakes could be on the cards but we'll take her home and see how she does before we make any plans for her."

The Listed Ryder Stakes (1200m) will be run as the final two-year-old feature of the 2018-19 season at Otaki on July 27. – NZ Racing Desk

Advertisment
More Reading...
Kiwi Grey Targets Subzero on Cup Day
The Subzero Handicap (1400m), a race solely for registered grey thoroughbreds, has proven to be a fan favourite at Flemington on Melbourne Cup Day, and this year, Kiwis will have their own grey to barrack for.
Te Akau Chasing Another Cup Day Success
Last year’s Melbourne Cup Day concluded in success for Mark Walker in the Gr.3 Hong Kong Jockey Club Stakes (1400m), a race he will chase back-to-back crowns in on Tuesday with Kiwi mare Quintessa.
New Stakes-Winner for Shamexpress
Exciting young sire ShamExpress (O’Reilly) continued his golden run at the weekend with new 3YO stakes winner Qiji Express lifting his first-crop stakes winners to runners ratio to an impressive 10,3%.
Karaka Graduates Stakes Quinella
Qiji Express NZ) (Shamexpress) and She's a Thief (NZ) (Showcasing) cost just $57,500 between them at Karaka in 2017, but they fought out the finish in a high-quality running of the $60,000 Listed Mufhasa FastTrack Stakes (1300m) at Ellerslie on Saturday.
Sires With Winners - Monday November 4
Here is the full list of 21 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.
Two Out of Three for Hard Press
New Zealand-bred three year-old Hard Press made it back-to-back wins when successful at Sandown on Wednesday over 1000m bringing a good pedigree update for his full brother headed to Karaka Book 1 in 2020.
Juvenile Trial Watch – Rosehill
Two heats at the Rosehill trials on Monday morning over 900m and the quickest of those was won by an expensive son of Golden Slipper winning first season sire Farnan.
Will it be a fairytale finish for Tasmanian-bred mare The Map?
Fresh from sweeping the sire awards at the 2024 Tasmanian Racing Awards this season, the Armidale Stud team is in line for another significant achievement with The Map (Alpine Eagle x This Moment) flying the flag for resident stallion Alpine Eagle in the 2024 Lexus Melbourne Cup on Tuesday 5 November.
Zoustar 6YO Stepping up to 2000m
Pre-post favourite Habana will head into unfamiliar territory at Ellerslie, but there is confidence in his camp that it will be a smooth transition.
Aussie Group Three Winner for Shamexpress
The Group III MVRC Typhoon Tracy Stakes at Moonee Valley on Friday night produced a blow out result when unheralded Shamexpress filly Embrace Me descended from the clouds to win the 1200 metre sprint going away.