Late call for Cuneen to pair with La Diosa

La Diosa

DUAL group one winning jockey Racha Cuneen has moved from standby jockey into the prime seat as he reunites with Group One winner La Diosa at Riccarton on Saturday.

Cuneen was La Diosa’s regular rider during the horse’s successful spring campaign last year, culminating by winning the Group One NZ 1000 Guineas at Riccarton.

That was Cuneen’s last raceday ride on La Diosa as the daughter of So You Think then trekked to Sydney during the autumn and was ridden by Jason Collett when its won the first of the horse’s four starts, the Group Two Surround Stakes.

Cuneen went on to win another Group One, the Group One Telegraph Handicap on Signify, then decided to try his luck on the Gold Coast, which left La Diosa in the hands of last season’s champion jockey Chris Johnson.

Johnson has ridden the horse in two trials and was booked for its planned fresh-up run at Riccarton a fortnight ago.

A wet track resulted in La Diosa’s withdrawal from that open sprint won by Maybe Miami and instead trainers Mandy and Matt Brown have targeted the Coupland’s Bakeries Mile Prelude as the kick-off.

That decision left the way clear for Cuneen to be reunited with the top-class mare, and trainer Matt Brown said the team is happy to have the star hoop back in the saddle.

“Chris has gone for Son Of Maher so Racha gets back on her,” Matt Brown said.

“It’s worked out well for Racha. He has been coming out and riding some work for us and he rode her in work this morning (Thursday) and was very pleased with her. He says she feels much stronger.”

Cuneen came to New Zealand for that last Riccarton meeting on September 23 and, after a brief trip back to Brisbane, he is now basing himself in the south for at least the next month.

Brown said it will be beneficial for both jockey and horse to reunite.

“He plans to ride through to (NZ) Cup week then may go back to Brisbane,” the trainer said.

“It’s good to have him back for now. He knows the mare so well.”

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After withdrawing La Diosa from its planned engagement last month, the Browns opted to start her at the Rangiora trials a few days later and she ran a quiet second to Aspen Lass over 1150 metres.

“She trialled well and we’re more than happy with her,” Brown said. “She’s ready to run a big race on Saturday. The track is at a Dead 4 at the moment and it could come back. It should be ideal for her.”

La Diosa is being set for the Group Two Coupland’s Bakeries Mile on November 15 and through Saturday’s race in good order she will round off her preparation with a start in the Coupland’s Bakeries Mile Trial (1400m) back at Riccarton on October 28.

The Browns will also be represented in another of the main events on Saturday, the Inglewood Stud Guineas Trial. Their hopes rest with in maiden River Run, a son of Pour Moi who is nominated for the Group One NZ 2000 Guineas.

River Run recorded two wins and a third in its first three trials then ran eighth in the horse’s only start behind stablemate Greenpark Gem at Riccarton last month.

Since then the horse has finished third in a Rangiora trial.

“He’s a horse we’ve always had a lot of time for, but he’s a wee bit immature,” Brown said.

“This will be a chance to see how he performs against some good ones. It’s a bit or trial and error with him.”

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