La Bella Diosa set to bounce back in Vinery
Adelaide option for filly
La Bella Diosa will be out to resurrect her Sydney campaign on Saturday.
Connections of the leading New Zealand filly were on a high after her debut Australian victory in the group two Surround Stakes at Randwick, but they were brought down to earth with a thud by her next performance at Rosehill.
The daughter of So You Think failed to beat a runner home in the Coolmore Classic, after which a scope revealed a small amount of mucus. She was also suffering from mild lower airway inflammation.
“They were pretty minor issues to be fair and she’s good now,” said Matt Brown, whose wife and training partner Mandy is in Sydney with their New Zealand 1000 Guineas winner.
La Bella Diosa will now look to turn her form around in the group one Vinery Stud Stakes at Rosehill.
“Jason Collett came over to ride her and he was more than happy for us to be pressing forward,” Matt Brown said.
The expatriate New Zealand jockey will be reunited with La Bella Diosa this weekend having guided her to a first-up success in the Surround Stakes.
A suspension resulted in Jay Ford gaining the Coolmore ride.
Provided La Bella Diosa shows her A decision has yet to be made as to whether Savvy Dreams will race again this season.
The group one performer is currently taking it easy in the wake of her third placing in the NZ Oaks at Trentham in just her fifth race day appearance.
“We’re very happy with her and she’ll be back at the track next week,” said Guy Lowry, who trains the daughter of Savabeel with Grant Cullen.
While it is a longshot, they have considered a trip to Australia for Savvy Dreams.
“It’s a wild thought, but we may look at Adelaide,” Lowry said. “There’s the Auraria Stakes, the Australasian Oaks and the SA Oaks.
“She is only a lightly-framed filly and if she shows any signs of tiredness when we get her back next week then she will go out for a good true form, she will head toward the A$1 million Australian Oaks at Randwick on April 8.
Rising Red’s second to Gingernuts in the New Zealand Derby has boosted his trainers’ confidence heading to the Australian equivalent.
The Trent Busuttin and Natalie Young-trained Rising Red is an acceptor in Saturday’s Tulloch Stakes at Rosehill but is more likely to head straight to the Australian Derby on Saturday week. Busuttin said he would make a decision on the Tulloch after Rising Red galloped today. spell.” Savvy Dreams won on debut on New Year’s Day before she finished fifth at Trentham and fourth at Hastings.
She then booked her Oaks berth with a runner-up finish behind the subsequent classic winner Bonneval in the Lowland Stakes.
In the meantime, Lowry has tipped Lamborghini in the Bets Travel Waipukurau Cup as the stable’s best chance today.
The Shinko King six-year-old won at Wairoa two starts back before he finished a fair third on his home track at Hastings earlier this month.
“He didn’t back up as well as I had hoped,” Lowry said. “I expect him to be very competitive this time.”
By contrast, he is not sure what to expect of stablemate and race rival Wait A Sec, who isn’t the easiest horse to follow. “He’s well, but he’s just been disappointing.” PETANQUE TENNIS