By Neil Evans
A lightly raced local filly is set to return with a bang at Monday’s Muswellbrook meeting.
Ivy Diva, a three-year-old daughter of underrated stallion and Listed winner Sebring Sun and trained by Tim McIntosh, hasn’t started since a smart off-speed maiden win in heavy ground at Scone in early August.
Racing returns to Muswellbrook on Monday.Credit: Fairfax Media
But she signalled her intention to pick up where she left off with a dominant trial win at home less than a fortnight ago.
That Open trial win over 800m, run in 46.80 secs, was one of the quickest of the session, and only marginally slower than the time run by dual metro BM 78 winner Dehorned Unicorn.
It also came on a Soft 6 rating which should be around the same mark for Ivy Diva’s return assignment in a competitive Benchmark 58 Hcp over 1000m to close the program.
Rated Soft 7 through Sunday, patchy yet improving weather should see the Muswellbrook surface settle around Soft 6.
Ivy Diva is drawn wide, but late in the day that may be no obstacle, with runners generally scouting well off the rail by then, and she is out of a mare by the prolific wet track sire I Am Invincible.
Adding to her race plan is the fact that Scone speedster and likely leader Too Darn Lovely can give her a nice “tow” across from an even wider draw.
Earlier in the meeting another home tracker can also strike fresh and finally break through when she resumes in a Maiden Hcp over 900m.
Tough four-year-old mare Missile Love hasn’t raced since mid-June when she ended a prep that included three consecutive close and at times luckless second placings, each time running home hard from well off speed.
By Doncaster winner and top-notch soft tracker Kermadec, and part of the local Ben Blay stable, Missile Love was given an easy trial 13 days ago, and is on track to get suitable soft ground.
In fact, any more unexpected rain would only enhance her credentials.
Supplied by Racing NSW
Full form and race replays available at racingnsw.com.au
