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Divina breaks maiden at Canterbury.

Darley Stud-based first-season sire Astern (Medaglia d'Oro) chalked up his sixth first-crop winner on Wednesday when the Chris Waller-trained Divina (2 f ex Sakitto by Domesday) broke her maiden over 1250 metres at Canterbury.

Last seen finishing third over 1100 metres at Randwick Kensington on February 3, the filly stayed on well in the closing stages to beat Smart Little Miss (Smart Missile) by a nose, while Santorini Sun (Choisir) was a further length away in third. 

The filly is owned by Denise Martin'sStar Thoroughbreds, who enjoyed a great day on Tuesday when they sold prolific stakes winner Fiesta (I Am Invincible) to Rosemont Stud for $1,350,000 at the Magic Millions National Broodmare Sale. 

"They (Star Thoroughbreds) are great supporters of the stable, and it was a great result for them yesterday (at Magic Millions)," the Chris Waller stable representative Charlie Duckworth told Sky Racing.

"It is a new day and a new and exciting career for a two-year-old coming through.

"She had the form from the autumn. She had a little let-up and won well.

"It was a great ride by James (McDonald), letting the speed come up underneath him and force the other fancied runner three-wide. He is leading the premiership for a reason.

"It was great to get the win."

Divina was purchased by her owners and Randwick Bloodstock for $190,000 at last year's Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale from the draft of Glenlogan Park and she is out of stakes-placed Domesday (Red Ramson) mare Sakitto, making a half-sister to one further winner. 

Sakitto herself is a half-sister to Listed-placed Hairpin (Octagonal), the dam of Group 3 scorer Detours (Ad Valorem), while she is also the half-sister to the dam of Group 3 winner Aichi (Strategic) and Listed winner Kinshachi (Commands). 

Sakitto has most recently been covered by Vinery Stud-based sire Exceedance (Exceed And Excel). 

Astern's six first crop winners are headed by Listed winner Seradess and he will stand at Darley Kelvinside for a reduced fee of $16,500, having stood last season for $22,000 (inc GST).