NZ mare now the Diva in NSW
By Peter Wharton
Former South Island mare Total Diva, a winner in open company at Menangle last Saturday and earlier the winner of the Group 3 Ranji Bill Stakes in a career-best 1:51.2, continues to prove herself in the top bracket among the female brigade in New South Wales.
The five-year-old has now won 15 races – including eight at Menangle – and $155,898 in stakes and has worked her way back to a NR99 mark.
Total Diva was bred by Christchurch couple Kevin and Carol Mounce and originally trained by Kevin.
Total Diva winning at Menangle
(c) Club Menangle.
“She was big and strong as a foal. We broke her in and won with her at the workouts at Ashburton one day,” Kevin said.
She was sold as unraced two-year-old to West Melton horseman Graham Court, whose son Paul trained her sire, the thrice NZ Cup winner Terror To Love, who is now standing at Pinelea Farm.
Total Diva began her racetrack career with Paul Court, notching an Invercargill success and six placings from nine starts as a two and three-year-old in NZ and two wins and a placing from seven starts in NSW.
When Paul and his young family moved to Canada in February 2020 the mare was transferred to Condell Park (NSW) trainer Peter Hanson.
Though Total Diva is racing on the other side of the Tasman, the Mounce’s continue to take a keen interest her career.
“We love watching her race in Sydney,” Kevin said.
Jane, the dam of Total Diva, was unraced.
“She had a couple of preparations but didn’t quite measure up, so we decided to breed from her. I’ve always liked Terror To Love, so I no hesitation in sending her to him,” Kevin stated.
Total Diva is her first foal and her second is Teddy The Terror, a yearling brother to the Group-winning mare.
Jane, a daughter of the dual NZ Cup winner and double millionaire Flashing Red, was a half-sister to the Forbury Park and Albion Park winner Dapper Zeus, being by Motu Mister Smooth (son of Smooth Fella) from Amourea, by Nero’s B B from the El Patron mare Denyse’s Charm and tracing eventually to the taproot Accident.
Total Diva has strong strains of colonial blood but she is none the worse for it.
