Marvellous Miss

Recent rain brought about the first heavy track for the autumn on April 17 at Rotorua, which played into the hands of Milan Miss (3 f Darci Brahma - Falaniella, by Faltaat) to run out an easy winner in the Maiden 1400 metres.

With fitness on her side following two races since a spell, and trial form on heavy ground, Milan Miss boasted sufficient pointers to warrant favouritism and winning by two and a quarter lengths paralleled her $3.90 & $1.80 tote price on the NZ TAB.

Travelling sweetly when poised throughout in third for jockey Matt Cameron, Milan Miss found the outside running to lead on straightening and although obscured from camera shot by the hedge on the far outskirts of the track she drew clear in dominant fashion.

“We had been waiting for some rain for this filly and she had shown at the trials to handle off ground,” said Te Akau trainer Jason Bridgman. “It was very wet footing, but she handled it well and was quite convincing on the line. It was timely to clear maidens with give in the ground and she won in a manner to suggest she could progress through the grades with a liking for the tracks over winter.

Bred by Te Akau principal David Ellis and owned by the Te Akau Milan Miss Syndicate inclduing Karyn Fenton-Ellis, her dam Falaniella was unraced but stems from a solid line of well-bred mares from Italy, Great Britian and the USA. Her grand-dam, Masaniella (Masad), recorded five wins from 1500m to 2100m, Paesanella (Seattle Song) won six times from 1400m to 1800m, and next in line Excitable (Nijinsky) won three races.

Like Exabelle (Exceed and Excel), who won five days earlier at Awapuni, Milan Miss is another absolute darling to do anything with at the stables in Matamata. Known as "Dot" to our team, although placid enough to be welcomed at the dinner table, she does possess a terrific will to win and gaining success at only her fourth start bodes well for the future.

CREDIT - JEFF DORE