Diva delight

Better wins ahead are predicted for Kensington Diva which broke her maiden status on the Ballarat Synthetic on Tuesday, May 21.

Trainers Tony & Calvin McEvoy believe the three-year-old filly will measure up to city class but is still learning her trade.

Punters jumped in at Ballarat backing Kensington Diva from $1.70 into $1.45 favourite in the Global Turf Maiden (1000m) and they had little cause for concern.

Jockey Harry Coffey gave the filly a gun ride and she proved too good winning by a half-length from Call To Glory ($4.40) with La Fille Rouge ($9.50), 1-3/4 lengths away third.

After jumping well, Coffey made the decision not to get into a speed battle and eased Kensington Diva back and obtained a perfect trail to the home turn.

Asked to improve over the final the 400 metres, the filly extended, took control and was always going to win despite the runner-up refusing to yield easily.

Trainer Tony McEvoy said Kensington Diva had always shown talent.

“She hasn’t been the easiest filly,” McEvoy said.

“She has shown us very nice talent but has been a little difficult, and a bit headstrong.

“You could see today when Harry (Coffey) peeled her out we thought she might go right on with it, but she is still working it out.

“Harry gave her a beautiful passage and hopefully she can come right on from today.

“She has got to grow out and strengthen a little bit and I think that will still happen.”

McEvoy said Kensington Diva had always shown metro standard ability in trackwork.

“Her form on race days is still a long way off that, so hopefully she can pick it up.

“It was a perfect birthday present for one of the owners Kevin Hall, so happy birthday to Kevin, and his wife Ann’s birthday is on Friday, so it is a good week for them.”

Winning jockey Harry Coffey also believes more wins are in store for Kensington Diva.

“I have trialled her all three times this prep,” Coffey said.

“I have been keen to go wherever she ran, so when I got lovely run throughout I thought she would be hard to beat.

“The runner-up really fought on hard, and she just really failed to put it away.

“To me, today, she felt like next time out over a bit further she would be a bit more dynamic.

“Being mindful that she was the best horse, I probably exposed fairly early in the home straight and she probably only has got a short, sharp sprint.

“She is pretty clean winded, and the McEvoy team has done a great job.”