Kiwi glamour filly wins on Oz debut

THE pride of Rangiora has rocked up to Randwick and proven just what a rock star she is.

La Bella Diosa, aka La Diosa when racing in New Zealand, has won the A$200,000 Group II Surround Stakes by one and a half lengths on Saturday.

The Mandy and Matt Brown-trained filly was too good despite the 1400m trip being shorter than her best.

Steady ran throughout the day forced the Randwick track to a heavy nine but La Bella Diosa ($9) travelled through it well and overtook dual Group I winner and $2.35 favourite Global Glamour in the straight.

Omei Sword eventually finished second with Global Glamour a head behind in third.

Already the favourite for the Australian Oaks, the So You Think filly has now firmed into $6 for the climax of her campaign over 2400m on April 8.

‘‘We weren’t really sure she would handle a track like that but obviously she did so it is all good,’’ Matt Brown said.

‘‘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.’’

Brown said the Keith Nolan Classic at Kembla Grange was the next logical step before the Vinery Stud Stakes (2000m).

The Browns kept the Kiwi connection by booking expat New Zealander Jason Collett to ride.

‘‘I’m pretty happy to win for a fellow Kiwi. It makes it a bit more special,’’ he said. ‘‘She flew through the ground. ‘‘She did it easily. I was a bit worried once I got her up over the rise but she had a kick. She’s a classy filly.’’

La Bella Diosa has now won five races from seven starts for more than $350,000 in stakes.

She is on a winning sequence of four races on the trot. All four wins have been in black type company with two at Listed level, a Group I and Saturday’s Group II.

Meanwhile, down at Caulfield, Black Heart Bart won the the Group I Futurity Stakes at Caulfield as Kiwi hope Turn Me Loose failed to fire in his defence of the A$500,000 race.