Trainer Stephen Marsh’s decision to back-up Sofia Rosa (NZ) (Makfi) proved to be right on the mark with the filly capturing the Group 2 $100,000 Mongolian Khan Royal Stakes (2000m) at Ellerslie on New Year’s Day.
The daughter of Makfi showed no ill-effects from her heavy fall, after clipping heels as race-favourite in the Group 2 Eight Carat Classic (1600m) on Boxing Day.
Marsh experienced the same misfortune when training Lucia Valentina (NZ) (Savabeel) who fell in the 2013 Group 2 Great Northern Guineas (1600m) on Boxing Day, then backed up to run a brave second toRising Romance (NZ) (Ekraar) in the Group 2 Royal Stakes on New Year’s Day.
Marsh, in consultation with owner Lib Petagna, rolled the dice again and this time they went one better with Sofia Rosa victorious.
The fifth leg of the New Zealand Bloodstock Filly of the Year Series was affected with the late scratchings of Group 2 Eight Carat Classic winner Capella (NZ) (Rip Van Winkle) and Starstripe (Starcraft) were withdrawn when the track was downgraded. ThenColdplay (NZ) (Savabeel) and Tessastock (NZ) (Tavistock) were scratched on veterinary advice after an incident in the barriers.
Sofia Rosa and jockey Danielle Johnson settled at the rear of the field before going forward on the outside nearing the home turn. On the bend the pair suffered interference on their inside when making a challenge, but the gutsy filly picked herself up to gather the leaders, hitting the lead with 250m to run. Racing greenly over the concluding stages, Sofia Rosa won stylishly by a length-and-a-half to Downtown Abbey (NZ) (Tavistock) and Megawatt(NZ) (Shocking) a neck behind in third.
“She’ll have a small break of about three weeks and then we’ll set her for two more legs of the NZB Filly of the Year Series races,” commented Marsh. “The Group 3 Lowland Stakes (2100m) at Hastings on March 2, then the Group 1 New Zealand Oaks (2400m) at Trentham on March 19. Long term we have the Group 1 Australian Oaks (2400m) at Randwick on the second day of The Championships on our radar.”
The daughter of Makfi has won three races from seven starts and has earned more than $96,000 for Lib Patenga’s JML Bloodstock.
Sofia Rosa was bred by Gerry Harvey and purchased by Bruce Perry Bloodstock for $65,000 at the 2014 Karaka Select Yearling Sale from Westbury Stud.
Sofia Rosa is out of Encosta de Lago mare Bislieri, a half-sister to Bel Danoro (Danehill), winner of the Group 3 VRC Bobby Lewis Handicap, and Bislotto (Bellotto), winner of the Listed VRC Red Roses Stakes.
With yesterday’s victory, Sofia Rosa earned 8 points in the NZB Filly of the Year, placing her second-equal with Capella in the Series behind leader Risque(NZ) (Darci Brahma). Downtown Abbey picked up 4 points with her second placing and Megawatt received 2 points. To view the leaderboard for the NZB Filly of the Year Series, click here.
