Superbly bred Juan Diva left it late in life to break through at stakes level, which she achieved with a fighting win in the Group III Eureka Stud WJ Healy Stakes (1200m) at Eagle Farm.
Coming off a Group 1 win on Startantes, Jason Collett drove the rising 6yo daughter of Snitzel to a three-quarter length win over Prime Candidate (Denman) with Ranges (Shooting To Win) a neck back in third.
Trained by the father and son combination, Richard and Will Freedman, the Trelawney Stud colour-bearer advances her record to five wins, four seconds, and a third from 20 starts with earnings of $341,940.
With the absence of his trainers, Juan Diva was saddled up by Brian Smith.
“What a lovely filly. She’s had a bit of bad luck with bad draws but she was down in weight today,” Smith said.
“She was meant to run at Ipswich last week but they had the guts to pull her out when the track was so bad. That takes a lot of doing but they got their reward today.
“The thing that is so great, Trelawney Stud, they own her in New Zealand and they’re great friends of mine and the Freedman boys. I’ve got to thank them for trusting me with these horses.
“I’m very proud to be able to win one for them today.”
Winning jockey Jason Collett reflected on his day.
“Fantastic. I had a wide trip and it was a very good effort by her. I had to start asking her to improve before the 600 and I thought this won’t end well,” Collett said.
“She actually came up under me. Brian and Richard (and Will) had her in really good order and I was able to wait until she got into the straight and ask her to improve again..
“It’s good for the Kiwis, with Trelawney Stud there.”
Bred by Fairway Thoroughbreds, Juan Diva was consigned by Segenhoe Stud to the 2018 Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale where she failed to make her $700,000 reserve.
She is the best of two winners from as many to race out of the top-class Husson (ARG) mare Peron.
Purchased by Segenhoe Thoroughbreds for $610,000 at the 2014 Patinack Dispersal, Peron won five races highlighted by the Listed IpswTC Gai Waterhouse Classic and was multiple Group placed.
A half-sister to the stakes winners Atmospherical and Gai’s Choice, Peron has an unraced 2yo Deep impact (JPN) filly named The Way We Were, in training with Peter Moody.
She has a yearling filly by Justify (USA) and foaled a brother to Juan Diva last spring before being covered by Wooton Bassett.
Juan Diva is the 123rd stakes-winner for Arrowfield Stud’s Snitzel who stands at a fee of $220,000 in 2022.
