Our Ivanhowe to resume in the Makybe Diva Stakes

An impressive jump out by Our Ivanhowe at Flemington today has initiated a change of plans for the German import who is now likely to resume in the Group 1 $500,000 Makybe Diva Stakes (1600m) at Flemington on September 10.

Our Ivanhowe, above, is set to resume in the Makybe Diva Stakes at Flemington. Photo by Daniel Costello.

Our Ivanhowe, above, is set to resume in the Makybe Diva Stakes at Flemington. Photo by Daniel Costello.

Co-trainer Lee Freedman had originally planned to kick off Our Ivanhowe’s Spring Carnival campaign in the Group 1 $500,000 Underwood Stakes (1800m) at Caulfield on September 24, but after the Doomben Cup winner strode around Flemington today, he is now thinking of letting him get back to the track a fortnight earlier.

“I was really pleased with him, we rode him quiet early and then let him finish off on the course proper,” Freedman told racing.com.

“He was strong to the line, being the horse that he is, he really liked the softer ground.”

“He probably won’t need another one (jump out) before he goes to the races.”

“There is a possibility after this morning’s trial that we might go to the Makybe Diva first up.”

“It isn’t really the right trip, but it kind of fits in better to the program. I can run in that and then three weeks to the Turnbull back to Flemington and then into the Caulfield Cup.”

“It sounds a good program to me.”

At his first campaign for Lee and Anthony Freedman, Our Ivanhowe finished third behind Mongolian Khan and Trip To Paris in the Group 1 $3m BMW Caulfield Cup (2400m) at Caulfield during the 2015 Melbourne Spring Carnival before running tenth to Prince Of Penzance in the Group 1 $6m Emirates Melbourne Cup (3200m) at Flemington.

Our Ivanhowe then had an interrupted Autumn Carnival when he was hampered with hoof problems but the Freedman Brothers were able to rectify the problem and took him to Brisbane for the Winter Carnival where he won the Group 1 $650,000 Hardy Brothers Doomben Cup (2000m) at Doomben.

Our Ivanhowe is rated as one of the top chances in this year’s Caulfield Cup and shares the second line of betting at $17 at Ladbrokes.com.au with Trip To Paris, the Aidan O’Brien trained Highland Reel, Queensland Oaks winner Provocative and Australian Derby victor Tavago.

Last year’s Victoria Derby winner Tarzino heads the Caulfield Cup market order at $15.

Our Ivanhowe is also entered for the Group 1 $3m Cox Plate (2040m) at Moonee Valley on October 22 for which he is rated a $31 chance and in early Melbourne Cup betting the seven year old is marked at $26

About The Author

Mark Mazzaglia

Mark is a passionate journalist with a life-time involvement in the racing industry. He spent many years as an analyst and form expert at the Courier Mail and also has hands-on experience working with some of Queensland’s top trainers.