Port in a storm should be ideal for mudlark Diva Rouge

A provincial-based mare who thrives on wet tracks is set to claim a third consecutive win when she steps up in class at Monday’s Port Macquarie meeting.

Diva Rouge, a four-year-old by Red Henno, is fast becoming a tactical advertisement for her Gosford-based trainer Jake Hull, who continues to hand-pick the right country races for this sprinter. In fact, it’s rare to find a provincial galloper who has run only on country tracks since debuting nearly a year ago.

But that almost modified approach to finding winnable races is paying big dividends for the Hull yard.

Diva Rouge could well be unbeaten in the past nine weeks since being left at the start at Scone in late January when resuming for only her third start.

Since then, she was unluckily beaten a whisker in soft ground at Armidale before back-to-back wins to kick-start her career.

A dominant maiden victory at Armidale by nearly four lengths was quickly followed by an even bigger margin win in a Class 1 at Coffs Harbour leading all the way on a Heavy 8 late last month.

And naturally with plenty of rain up and down the NSW coastline since, connections have set their sights on a Class 2 over 1206m at Port Macquarie.

The meeting is likely to be run on a very heavy surface, with consistent lead-up rain showing no signs of stopping.

With up to 50mm forecast in the 24 hours leading up, the meeting could still be under mounting pressure to go ahead.

Murwillumbah trainer Matthew Dunn has a strong hand across the meeting, with Storm Merchant in a Class 2 Handicap over 1206m, Gaylord in a Benchmark 58 (1106m), and last-start winner Archie Maximus in a BM 58 (1516m) all given strong winning chances.

Supplied by Racing NSW