Diva Dominates Bathurst Gold Cup Decider

NANGAR Diva has broken through for a deserved group race victory with a decisive win in Friday night's Ladbrokes Bathurst Gold Cup Final (520m).

Leading into Friday night's group 3 blockbuster the daughter of Fabregas had featured in four group race finals, her best finish a courageous third to Sennachie in the group 1 Brisbane Cup last July.

But on Friday night it was the Dennis Barnes-trained sprinter that demanded the spotlight, making full use of a suitable box two draw to assume the lead from gallant early leader Solar Sky up the back straight.

From there things got pretty heated, with Nangar Diva, Shima Breeze, Slingshot Hammer and a charging Good Odds Harada all jockeying for positions.

But after some tight and competitive racing off the top turn, it was Nangar Diva that put her stamp on proceedings, clearing away for a comfortable victory in the $25,000 to-the-winner central west feature.

Stopping the clock in 29.72, Nangar Diva defeated an unlucky Slingshot Hammer by 5 ¼ lengths, while rank outsider Djay Holden finished third another three-quarters away.

Friday night's Bathurst Cup victory was trainer Dennis Barnes' first, somewhat surprising given the immense success the Cudal based conditioner has enjoyed across his decorated career in the sport.

Nangar Diva, a daughter of Fabregas and Fancy Dancer, extended her record to nineteen wins from 39 starts in Friday night's feature, the prize money purse taking her earnings past the $100,000 mark.

Meanwhile, next week's pre-post Rookie Rebel favourite Rajasthan showed he was on song for his looming group 1 assignment with a track record debut over the Bathurst 618 metres.

Running 35.69, the Sandown Cup winner led all the way over Zipping Cia to claim the $5,000 to-the-winner Ladbrokes Red Dog event.

On a night of fantastic racing, the feature maiden on the program, worth $9,980 to-the-winner, went the way of Nangar Rust for Mick Hardman, the son of Bella Infrared, bred by Dennis Barnes, scoring by 1 ¾ lengths in 30.11.

Runner-up in the race was Boree Belle for Chris Spratt, a litter-sister to the winner.