Trainer Mark Kavanagh has entered the valuable 2nd foal from dual Australian Horse-Of-The-Year & triple Gr1 Melbourne Cup winner Makybe Diva (Desert King-Tugela, by Riverman) to make her racetrack debut over 1200m at Saturday’s Betfair Park-Sandown Lakeside meeting. The 2YO filly La Dolce Diva (Fusaichi Pegasus-Makybe Diva) was a $1.2 million yearling at the 2010 Inglis Easter Sale in Sydney & Kavanagh confirmed: “I will make up my mind on Friday if she will run. It depends on the track (following recent rain). I wouldn't want to run her if it is going to be too heavy.” Kavanagh emphasised he has “adopted a patient approach with the filly” & told racenet.com.au: “This is her 3rd preparation & she has been taken along quietly. Mum didn't race till late, there's no rush.” La Dolce Diva has not trialled publicly, but Kavanagh said she has had 3 unofficial jump-outs & ran 3rd in “fair time” at her last hit-out at Werribee last Friday. Kavanagh added Saturday’s race would “probably be La Dolce Diva’s only appearance before he gave her a break to fill out further before a Spring campaign” noting: “She has showed us that she is a stayer. I'd like to get a run into her this preparation to give her the experience & then put her away & train her for the Gr1 Victoria Oaks.”
Kavanagh will take a similar approach with a number of Delbridge Racing's rising 3-y-olds who are all bred on staying lines. So watch out for horses like Luckyzeel, Believabeel, Pakari Toa (pictured) and Devoro to step out over the coming months.