Platinum Diva
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Lisa Latta believes Platinum Diva is a contender for Group One honours this season.
The Awapuni trainer's opinion of the juvenile was vindicated on Monday when the filly was a comfortable winner of the Kuripuni Sports Bay 2YO at Tauherenikau.
"Right from the get go she has showed a fair bit of class," Latta said.
Raced by long-time stable clients Lincoln Farms and Neville McAlister, Platinum Diva made her first appearance last month at Trentham where she ran fourth behind the highly-regarded Te Akau colt Heroic Valour.
The benefit of that experience stood her in good stead and she settled nicely in behind the leader before rider Darryl Bradley angled her into the clear 250 metres from home.
Platinum Diva lengthened stride nicely to open her account, and that of her Hunter Valley-based sire Foxwedge in New Zealand, at the expense of Tellyawhat, who came home well after a tardy start, and Don Blanco was a creditable third on debut.
"She lacked a bit of ring craft first-up and today she bullied her way out and finished off well," Latta said.
The Gr.1 Courtesy Ford Manawatu Sires' Produce Stakes on her home track on April 2 is a longer-term target with the Gr.2 J Swap Contractors Matamata Breeders' Stakes an inviting option in between times.
The connections of Platinum Diva have gone down that northern path before with Platinum Balos finishing fourth in the 2014 Matamata feature while Platinum Express was unplaced last year. – NZ Racing Desk.
The Awapuni trainer's opinion of the juvenile was vindicated on Monday when the filly was a comfortable winner of the Kuripuni Sports Bay 2YO at Tauherenikau.
"Right from the get go she has showed a fair bit of class," Latta said.
Raced by long-time stable clients Lincoln Farms and Neville McAlister, Platinum Diva made her first appearance last month at Trentham where she ran fourth behind the highly-regarded Te Akau colt Heroic Valour.
The benefit of that experience stood her in good stead and she settled nicely in behind the leader before rider Darryl Bradley angled her into the clear 250 metres from home.
Platinum Diva lengthened stride nicely to open her account, and that of her Hunter Valley-based sire Foxwedge in New Zealand, at the expense of Tellyawhat, who came home well after a tardy start, and Don Blanco was a creditable third on debut.
"She lacked a bit of ring craft first-up and today she bullied her way out and finished off well," Latta said.
The Gr.1 Courtesy Ford Manawatu Sires' Produce Stakes on her home track on April 2 is a longer-term target with the Gr.2 J Swap Contractors Matamata Breeders' Stakes an inviting option in between times.
The connections of Platinum Diva have gone down that northern path before with Platinum Balos finishing fourth in the 2014 Matamata feature while Platinum Express was unplaced last year. – NZ Racing Desk.