South Island-based trainers Matt and Mandy Brown made gavelhouse.com NZ 1000 Guineas winner La Bella Diosa’s first assault on Aussie soil a victorious one winning in tough conditions at Randwick on Saturday.
Downing a quality field in the Gr.2 Surround Stakes that included hype fillies Omei Sword (High Chaparral), Global Glamour (Star Witness) and Foxplay (Foxwedge), the daughter of So You Think put a 1.5 length gap to her nearest rival at the post and holds Gr.1 Australian Oaks favouritism.
“We weren’t really sure she would handle a track like that but obviously she did so it is all good,” Matt Brown said.
“She has always shown a lot. She won the gavelhouse.com New Zealand Thousand Guineas pretty well. The owners wanted to have a bit of a go at the Australian Oaks so we’ve come over early. To get a result like this is just great.”
The win is a timely reminder of the stellar start to stud Coolmore’s 10-time Group One winner So You Think (High Chaparral) has made with a mare and foal package currently up for auction on gavelhouse.com Australia that features a filly by him.
Located at Edinglasie Stud in the Hunter Valley the mare Stepanova (Danehill Dancer) is a regally-bred daughter of a full-sister to High Chaparral and with her So You Think filly at foot is on the market at AU$50,000 with bidding set to close from 7pm AEDT tonight (27 February).
For tips on bidding on bloodstock on gavelhouse.com follow the link or contact the gavelhouse.com Australia team on 03 9614 4882.
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