Promising filly breaks maiden status with Rotorua romp

[Wandering Eyes]

Promising three-year-old filly Miss Ella (NZ) (Iffraaj) set tongues wagging at Rotorua on Tuesday as she broke her maiden status with a ten-length romp over 1400m.

The richly bred daughter of Iffraaj is out of the Gr.1 Queensland Oaks (2400m) runner-up Zenella and descends from a maternal line that includes multiple Group One winner Tristalove and her daughter, the dual Group One placed Diamond Like.

Purchased by Go Racing for $240,000 out of the Cambridge Stud draft at Karaka in 2020, Miss Ella had been placed twice from her first three starts for trainer Stephen Marsh before opening her account in emphatic fashion under rider Danielle Johnson.

Despite being tardily away Johnson soon had Miss Ella in front as she set up a steady speed before dashing away approaching the home turn.

Johnson hardly turned the stick on the filly who bolted clear to win by just on ten lengths in a powerhouse display.

Marsh had expected the filly to win at her last start when she finished runner-up at Pukekohe, but the addition of blinkers for today’s appearance made all the difference.

“That was just a super win and well deserved as she has shown us plenty at home,” Marsh said.

“She is a very laid-back filly who takes everything in her stride and I had been expecting her to win last time.

“We put the blinkers on today and that really sparked her up, as she travelled up then put them away very comfortably.”

Now the filly has found winning form, Marsh is keen to sit down and put a plan together with some loftier goals.

“She has just kept on learning and now she has that win under her belt we can look to step her up to better things,” he said.

“She holds a nomination for the New Zealand Oaks (Gr.1, 2400m) in March but that is still a fair way off.

“If she continues to thrive we could even look at the Karaka 3YO Mile (1600m) at Ellerslie next month.

“It’s a $1million race and you only get one shot at it, so if she is going well enough she deserves her chance in it.”

The victory was the middle leg of winning treble for former Haunui Farm shuttle stallion Iffraaj, who was also represented by race one winner Bigiff (NZ) and race seven winner Camarosa (NZ).

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