Cambridge jockey Mark Du Plessis labelled Mark Todd-trained filly Belle Mia "the quickest Zabeel I've ridden" after she quit maiden ranks at Te Awamutu yesterday.
Belle Mia, whose owners include Telecom boss Theresa Gattung and broadcaster Paul Holmes, indicated her ability with a five-length trial win over 800m at Te Teko
in August.
But in her first two starts the best she could manage was second.
But yesterday Du Plessis used Belle Mia's speed to kick straight to a lead she never relinquished, the winning margin being three-quarters of a length.
"Zabeels don't normally have that much pace, but in saying that she's probably going to be at her best over more ground," said Du Plessis, who rode three winners to go with one win at Rotorua on Saturday.
"She's a nice filly but she's probably a year from her best. She was my best ride today and I expected her to win easier than she did but they pressured me all the way."
Belle Mia is raced by many of the same owners in Todd's New Zealand Oaks-winning filly Bramble Rose.
Along with Gattung, Holmes and his wife Deborah, Todd and his wife Caroline, they race Belle Mia with Sue and Graham Wrigley, Liz Scalley, Eddie Stibbe, John Brown and John Thomson.
"She's top class," Todd said. "She's nominated for the One Thousand Guineas, Levin Classic and the [New Zealand] Oaks so we'll just have to have a look and see what's best for her.
"She's going to be better in autumn so it might not be in her best interests to trek down to Christchurch [for the One Thousand Guineas].
"She'll keep improving the further she goes."
- NZPA
