Sent out favourite for the 1400 metre maiden, the Robert Hickmott trained Divan
was allowed to drift back early from his wide gate and despite over-racing at
the rear of the field for Damien Oliver was still able to unwind a sustained
finishing burst to overhaul the leaders and win by a neck.A $500,000 NZB Premier Sale purchase for James Bester Bloodstock from the draft of The Oaks Stud, Divan is the first winner for New Zealand Horse of the Year Seachange and runs for Lloyd and Nick Williams in partnership with his breeder Dick Karreman.
Stakes-placed at his only previous run when third in the Listed VRC Anzac Day Stakes behind Merion, Divan is entered for everything this spring so the expectations are high.
Divan firmed from $26 to $13 third favouritism for the Group I MRC Caulfield Guineas and from $19 to $12 for the Caulfield Classic.
However Sportingbet pushed out the price for Divan to win the Sportingbet Cox Plate from $31 to $51.
"We were probably a touch skinny at $31 for the Cox Plate and based on that performance we're now happy to lay him at $51," Sportingbet's Andrew Brown said.
"It's much tougher giving good horses a start at Moonee Valley as opposed to maidens at Sportingbet Park."
If Divan has a fraction of the ability of his mother, he may well prove up to the task.A half-sister by Cape Cross (IRE) to Group I winner Keepa Cruisin, Seachange won 14 races from 1200 to 1600 metres, seven of them at Group I level in New Zealand, her best runs here in Australia being seconds in the Group I VRC Myer Classic and MRC Futurity Stakes.
