Paul Vettise, LOVERACING.NZ News Desk 15 June 2026
An invitation from Novara Park has translated into immediate racing success for Shaune Ritchie and his clients.
The Cambridge trainer, who operates in partnership with Colm Murray, produced Dubawi Diva for a stylish debut victory at Matamata on Sunday.
The two-year-old made all the running in the Entain/NZB Insurance Pearl Series Race (1050m) and held a strong gallop under apprentice Jack Taplin to make a dream start for all concerned.
“We were approached by Luigi Muollo, who’s got Novara Park, and he had a few fillies to lease, so we went out and picked one and she stood out to us,” Ritchie said.
A daughter of young resident sire King Of Comedy, Dubawi Diva is the fourth winner for the Dubawi mare Diamonds Of Dubai and is raced by Ritchie with Allan Pate and the rugby-orientated Cushy Crew’s Syndicate.
“Allan has raced quite a few horses with us and is involved with the Owners’ Federation and members of the Leamington Rugby Club are involved, I kept a share for myself so it’s a good way to kick it off,” Ritchie said.
“Her trials were nice and quiet and she’s been no hassle, she’s generally showed pretty good gate speed.
“With a claim and the fillies’ allowance, and the track in great order and the rail held up really well early, she was just a little bit too strong.
“Obviously, drawing barrier one helped with the way she races and made it a bit harder for the others to catch her from wider gates.”
Ritchie is now looking at late season stakes options for Dubawi Diva.
“She came through the race really well and we’d like to look at a bit of black type before the fancy three-year-olds step out in the spring,” he said.
“The Castletown Stakes (Listed, 1200m) and the Ryder Stakes (Listed, 1200m) will probably be on her agenda.
“I’m not 100 percent sure how she’d handle heavy tracks and we’ve had such a dry autumn that you’d have to think we’re going to get some rain, but there’s only one way to find out.
“I think pressing on is the right way to go at the moment, she may be limited to 1200 and 1400m with the speed she’s got and the spring three-year-olds step up to a mile pretty quickly.”
Ritchie will also be following the fortunes in Australia of a former stablemate of Dubawi Diva.
“Luigi sent us another lovely filly called Explosive Express and she won a trial really impressively at Ellerslie and went over to Chris Waller,” he said.
Bred and raced by Muollo, the well-related Staphanos two-year-old finished third on debut at Warwick Farm for the champion trainer earlier this month.
“She’s a half-sister to Explosive Jack, who won three Derbys, so she might be one to follow when she gets up over further in the spring,” Ritchie said.
