TODD Pletcher saddled Sandiva to justify favouritism in the Grade 3 Marshua’s River Stakes at Gulfstream Park last weekend. It was a good evening for the owners Al Shaqab Racing as they also collected the other Grade 3 on the card.

The Irish-bred Sandiva has just turned five and she was winning for the seventh time on Saturday and doing so for the fourth time at this level. This was her second graded win in the USA and she also won at Group 3 level in England and France. She was runner-up last year in the Grade 2 Churchill Distaff Turf Mile Stakes and her career earnings now are some $570,000.