Kiwi horse to make Australian debut

Group I performer Bella Gioia is hitting top gear in Queensland after a slow start.

‘‘She took a while to get back on her tucker when she first arrived, but she’s come right and she’s ready to rock and roll now,’’ Cambridge trainer Shaune Ritchie said.

‘‘She had a good gallop with Sultan Of Swing on Monday and they both went very well. I’m satisfied with the pair of them.’’

Bella Gioia finished runner-up in the Group I New Zealand 1000 Guineas at Riccarton in the spring, after which she had to undergo surgery to remove bone chips from a fetlock.

The daughter of Swiss Ace has had one run since when eighth in the Group III Cambridge Breeders’ Stakes, a performance that earned a pass mark from Ritchie.

‘‘I would have liked to see her attack the line a little bit better, but she hadn’t run for a long time so she was OK,’’ he said.

Bella Gioia will make her Australian debut in the Group III Fred Best Classic at Eagle Farm on Saturday and her performance will determine the future direction of her campaign.

‘‘If she runs really well then we could be looking at a race like the Queensland Guineas for her or there are a number of other fillies’ races,’’ Ritchie said.

Meanwhile, stablemate Sultan Of Swing has come through his unplaced Australian debut at Doomben in good style.

‘‘He had no luck and was caught three wide so we didn’t really get a line on him,’’ Ritchie said.

‘‘He was off the track all the way and boxed on okay. He’ll run in a Listed race at Eagle Farm next on Saturday week.’’

NZ Racing Desk