Peacock hopeful with The Paua Diver

Having had great success with big sister, Tony Peacock has gone back to the well and is hopeful the dam Their Excuse can produce a second star.

The trainer will debut The Paua Diver tonight in the Bendigo Party Hire Pace, part of an eight-race program at Lords Raceway that kicks off on Trots Vision at 6.32pm.

The race marks the five-year-old’s first Victorian and second Australian start, having previously won twice in 14 starts in New Zealand.

“He’s quite a nice horse,” Peacock said. “He’s a half-brother to Bettor Enforce, who’s done a good job.”

Seven-year-old mare Bettor Enforce has won 17 of her 82 starts and $266,189 in winnings, including a Group 2 and consecutive Group 3 wins.

Peacock is optimistic The Paua Diver can similarly thrive in Australia, and showed plenty on debut when he ran second last start, albeit well beaten by Star Major.

“He is a big, immature fella, probably 17 hands,” Peacock said. “They went 1:51 at Wagga, he was underdone a little bit and I reckon he might go better (tonight). He’s come on really well since he raced.

“I think he has a bit of a future and think he will finish up at Menangle, where he would love a fast mile.”

He’ll learn more tomorrow night when The Paua Diver steps out from gate one amid a quality field, with talented mare Concealment second-up hoping to add to her 11 career wins, while Single Tree Road, Franco Jolto, Major Jodi, Brackenreid and Arts Dash all look to have claims.

A positive result would be well received by the stable, which had been locked out of Victorian racing by the covid-19 restrictions, with the Moama property north of the closed border.

“It’s been very tricky being on the New South Wales side when most of my racing is done in Victoria,” he said.

“I am right on the border and only been able to race in Wagga or Leeton. If I crossed the border to go to the vet or something I had to isolate for 14 days, so it’s good to get back to racing in Victoria.”

HRV – Michael Howard