Divine Quality has taken the step to city racing in her stride
Three-year-old Divine Quality has taken the step to city racing in her stride and confirmed herself as a filly on the rise with a convincing win at Flemington.
The Robbie Griffiths-trained Divine Quality scored an easy win on debut at Bendigo in April before attention turned to Saturday’s Indian Summer Handicap for fillies over the 1200m straight course.
With leading apprentice Beau Mertens aboard, Divine Quality got cover for the first half of the race going down the rail side before making her winning run in the final 400m.
Divine Quality, the $2.30 Sportsbet.com.au favourite, hit the front passing the 200m and raced clear late to defeat Summer Glen by 3-1/4 lengths, with a long head to Savaju in third.
“That was my first time on her back and she’s obviously an impressive filly, as you can see,” Mertens said.
“She’s pretty professional. She does everything you ask her to do. She would bounce and put herself there or she’ll go back and get a bit of cover.
“Being very versatile is a good tool to have and she’s definitely got that.”
Griffiths stable representative Don Healy was impressed with how Divine Quality handled her first time racing down the straight and believes she is a promising horse.
“She settled nicely and her last 400 metres was just terrific,” he said.
“Our only concern really today was whether she would handle the straight. Beau did as he was asked to do, which was to keep horses around him and give her something to chase.”
