Moira and Kieran Murdoch completed the racing season in winning fashion, with Divine Essence (NZ) (Iffraaj) 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.
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 (Highland Reel) 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 (NZ) (Time Test) 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.
“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 (NZ).
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 (NZ) (American Pharoah) in The Homestead Sports Bar & Bistro (1100m) and consistent gelding Loose Change (NZ) (The Bold One) in the Kainui Pack & Cool (1600m).
A son of American Pharoah, Horrie is the first foal out of talented race mare Contessa Vanessa (NZ) (Bullbars), 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.”
