Outback Diva could tackle the Capital City’s Cup

The pocket-sized Outback Diva produced a devastating sprint to run away from the field in the second running of the Affinity Electrical Technologies Canberra Mile at Thoroughbred Park. Outback Diva along with Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott’s Entente are now exempt from the TAB Canberra Cup ballot after finishing first and second in Friday’s feature.

Richard & Michael Freedman made it two from two in the race after capturing the inaugural Canberra Mile in 2020 with Cinqueadea. The stable is confident that Outback Diva would handle the rise to the 2000m of the TAB Canberra Cup with Freedman Brother’s Racing Manager Sophie Johnson stating “she was unproven at the Mile so we entered her to see how she’d go and the way she accelerated late it’s safe to say the Mile is no issue.”

“She was really impressive and she has pulled up fantastic, I think she’s going to appreciate the 2000m.”

While Outback Diva is certainly to head back down the Federal Highway, the TAB Canberra Cup remains heavily on the Freedman Brother’s radar.

“It is certainly on the cards” Sophie Johnson said. “Richard & Michael want to play it by ear and at this stage it looks likely we’ll be back here for the Cup or at Randwick on Saturday 6th March at the Group 3 Filles & Mares race over 1600m.”

Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott’s Group 3 winner Entente produced an excellent first-up run when second behind Outback Diva. The 4-year-old son of Dundeel lugged 61kgs in Canberra on Friday and will certainly appreciate the rise to the 2000m. Last time at the trip, he won the $200,000 Port Macquarie Cup after starting $1.50 before running unplaced in the prestigious Geelong Cup.

Another eye-catching first-up performance was by that of the local Maid of Ore. The Nick Olive-trained mare had found herself out of form, finishing 8th or worst in her previous four starts but a return to her home track seemed to make all the difference with an impressive third placing.

Maid of Ore finished third behind Mugatoo and Fun Fact in the 2020 TAB Canberra Cup and will again be one of Canberra’s main hopes for a local winner in 2021.