Photo: Inglis
Juan Diva (Snitzel) broke through at black-type level on Saturday winning the Gr.3 W.J. Healy Stakes (1200m) at Eagle Farm.
Raced by Trelawney Stud’s Brent and Cherry Taylor in partnership with Brent’s mother Faith Taylor, Juan Diva had finished just out of the money in her previous two starts, both at Listed level.
This time around the five-year-old mare displayed a class turn of foot to score a three-quarter length win over Prime Candidate (Denman).
Brian Smith, representing father and son training duo Richard and Will Freedman, said a bold decision to scratch last week to avoid the rain affected track at Ipswich paid off.
"What a lovely filly,” Smith said. “She's had a bit of bad luck with bad draws but she was down in weight today.
"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 they 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."
The Taylors are enjoying yet another successful racing season, with this the 10th stakes win from their racing team this term.