Divine end to season for Murdochs

Media Release - Wednesday July 31

Moira and Kieran Murdoch completed the racing season in winning fashion, with Divine Essence scoring her maiden victory at Tauranga on Wednesday.

Only lightly raced for a rising five-year-old, Divine Essence was having her fifth raceday start and second under the Murdoch’s care, with her most recent effort finishing back in the field on the Cambridge Synthetic.

Divine Essence winning at Tauranga on Wednesday.  Photo: Kenton Wright (Race Images)

The mare looked to have gained clear improvement from the fresh-up run when trialling well in the heavy conditions at Avondale a fortnight ago but was among the middle-market paying $12.10, while Led A Merry Dance jumped the $2.10 race-favourite.

After jumping well from barrier three, Divine Essence was steadied into third-last position on the rail by Jasmine Fawcett, with Led A Merry Dance firmly in her sights one spot closer to the pace. Teak led the field throughout the running and into the home straight, and while Led A Merry Dance quickly moved into contention at the 200m mark, Divine Essence was right on her tail and caught the favourite in the final bounds, with the final margin just a nose.

Moira Murdoch said that the improved performance was expected, with Divine Essence showing plenty of promise before bringing that to race-day.

“I thought it was a fantastic effort, very narrow obviously but she was really brave to the line,” she said.

“She’s had so much promise and she’s finally put it together, which is really pleasing to see.

“I think she will go on a better track as well, but I don’t think the poly really suited her, she got a bit of interference and it’s quite a tight track, so we opted to come here.

Advertisement

“We’ll see how she comes through this and tick her over until the tracks improve a little bit. We were lucky to be the first race with the rail out wide.”

By Iffraaj, Divine Essence was purchased by Brewers Bloodstock out of co-breeder Haunui Farm’s Karaka Yearling draft in 2021 for $80,000, with her dam a two-win O’Reilly mare Our Essence.

The Murdochs will head north from their base at Karioitahi Beach to Ruakaka on Saturday with two runners, including a well-bred three-year-old debutant Horrie in The Homestead Sports Bar & Bistro (1100m) and consistent gelding Loose Change in the Kainui Pack & Cool (1600m).

A son of American Pharoah, Horrie is the first foal out of talented race mare Contessa Vanessa, a winner at Group Two and Three level during her career.

“We’ve got a nice first starter with a reasonable draw (three),” Moira Murdoch said.

“I haven’t had any involvement with his owners previously, but they opted to bring him out to me, which was very nice of them, they’re a lovely bunch of people.

“Loose Change is always very honest, so we’ll hope for good races.” – LOVERACING.NZ News Desk

Advertisment
More Reading...
Magic Carpet Writes New Chapter for Family
Jenna McLeod got a massive thrill when watching the latest generation of her family’s breed score at stakes level at Te Rapa on Saturday.
Kiwi Stayer Chasing Melbourne Cup Golden Ticket
Wolfgang, who races as Mister Wolfgang in Australia, will get his first opportunity to earn a golden ticket into the Gr.1 Melbourne Cup (3200m) when he heads to Flemington on Saturday.
Sires With Winners - Saturday September 27
Here is the full list of 106 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.
Sires With Winners - Sunday September 28
Here is the full list of 73 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.
My Wish on Track for G1 HK International Mile
The Mark Newnham trained Flying Artie gelding My Wish was crowned Most Improved Horse at the annual awards night in Hong Kong at the end of last season and has wasted no time confirming that potential with a dazzling first up win in the Group III Celebration Cup (1400m) at Sha Tin on Sunday.
Jenni The Pride of Trelawney
Comeback mare Pride Of Jenni has given Trelawney Stud a number of reasons to look forward to the spring after a dashing victory in the Gr.2 Feehan Stakes (1600m) on Friday night.
‘Petrol in the Tank’ – Why Buying Mares from Godolphin is a Good Idea
From the point of view of the bloodstock world, Beiwacht was the most significant winner from last weekend with his Group I Golden Rose victory propelling his sire Bivouac to the top of the second season sires list, but it wasn’t just Godolphin cheering him home with a number of other Aussie breeders now invested in his family.
Pedigree Watch – G1 European 2YO
Juveniles took centre stage overnight in the UK and Ireland with a pair of Group I races decided at Newmarket in the Middle Park Stakes (6f) for the colts and Cheveley Park Stakes (6f) for the fillies, while at The Curragh a field of 30 lined up in the Goffs Million, the richest 2YO race in Europe.
Sires With Winners - Monday September 29
Here is the full list of 22 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.
Golden Rose Brings Second Season Shake Up
We are two months into a new racing season and the second season sires table was given a good shake up over the weekend with the $1million Group I Golden Rose and $300,000 Group II Stutt Stakes both producing a quinella for sires in this cohort.