NOT THE ROAD LESS TRAVELLED FOR HAWKESBURY FILLY

HAWKESBURY trainers Mitch and Desiree Kearney will miss their home track meeting tomorrow – and with good reason!

Husband and wife are on the road to Brisbane tonight, taking their three-year-old filly Sheeza Diva north for a crack at Saturday’s $700,000 Group 1 Queensland Oaks (2200m) at Eagle Farm.

Sheeza Diva might be one of the fillies’ classic roughies at $101 with TAB.com.au, but that doesn’t worry their trainers – nor another road trip.

“She is a very well travelled girl,” Desiree Kearney said today in what surely is an understatement.

“Sheeza Diva will sleep most of the way, and we’re hoping to get to Brisbane around 7.30 in the morning.”

Sheeza Diva finished fourth in the Group 3 Gloaming Stakes (1800m) at Rosehill Gardens last October, and Team Kearney took her to Melbourne the following month for the Group 1 VRC Oaks (2500m), where she ran ninth to Strictly Business.

They were on the road again this preparation with the filly, this time to Queensland – but it was a wasted trip.

Sheeza Diva ran last of 14 in the Listed Gold Coast Bracelet (1800m) on May 9 against her own sex, and the Kearneys were so disappointed they brought her straight home.

Not with the filly, but the ride.

“She was ridden upside down, wide and taking off at the 800m to go up toward the front, and

that’s not the way to she likes to race,” Desiree Kearney said.

“Sheeza Diva showed that form was all wrong when she ran a terrific fourth (with a cross over nose band on) to Agent Zero in a 3YO Benchmark 72 Handicap (1800m) at Randwick on May 26.

“Apprentice Mollie Fitzgerald gave her time to settle, and she came from second last at the 400m and was beaten less than a length.

“That run convinced us to make another trip back to Queensland for the Oaks.

“She is in fine order, is very fit and has drawn well in a capacity field.

“It would be fantastic to get some black type with her.”

The Kearneys have booked Tom Sherry for Sheeza Diva, totally aware he had already taken the mount on Sunsprite, who is fourth emergency.

“It’s doubtful Sunsprite will get a run,” Desiree Kearney said. “But if she does get into the field, we will have to get another rider.”

Sheeza Diva, a daughter of Pierro, was a $15,000 buy at the 2024 Inglis Classic yearling sale.

Whilst she has won only the one race (a 1300m Super Maiden at Hawkesbury last September), she has more than repaid her purchase price, having earned just over $111,000 to date.

Sheeza Diva is one of two provincial representatives in the Oaks; the other being leading Newcastle trainer Kris Lees’ Crathie Kirk (Michael Rodd), also a $101 bolter.

Team Kearney has Heeza Steve (Midway Maiden Handicap, 1400m) and Lady Shenanigans (5YO & Up Benchmark 64 Handicap, 1100m) engaged at Hawkesbury tomorrow.

The couple was hoping for a heavy track for nine-times winner Lady Shenanigans, but strong winds today wasn’t music to their ears.

. Kris Lees was the sole provincial winner at the midweek Warwick Farm fixture today.

His three-year-old filly Beneath The Rock (Tyler Schiller) at $7 was too good for her opposition in the Maiden Plate (1300m) at only her second start.

STORY JOHN CURTIS, JUNE 3, 2026 - PICS BRADLEY PHOTOS