More Black-Type Success for Zennista (NZ)

The well-performed central districts galloper Zennista (NZ) (Zenno Rob Roy) claimed her second Group 3 victory yesterday, landing the Group 3 $70,000 Sofitel Luxury Hotels Stakes (2000m) at Ellerslie on Melbourne Cup day.

Zennista (NZ) wins the Group 3 Sofitel Luxury Hotels Stakes at Ellerslie on Melbourne Cup day.

Trained by Lisa Latta at Awapuni, Zennista entered the race as a winner of seven races, including four black-type successes, and was last seen finishing sixth in the Group 1 Spring Classic at Hastings.

The Festival Sale graduate was given an economical trip throughout the race by leading rider Mark du Plessis who positioned her one spot behind the leader.

In the home straight, a gap cleared near the inside of the track and Zennista burst to the front of the field without going around a horse. Late challenges were mounted out wide by Soriano (NZ) (Savabeel) and Thunderbird One (NZ) (Storm Creek), both Karaka graduates, but were in vein as Zennista triumphed by a long head to lead home a Karaka trifecta.

It was the first win by Zennista on a track rated Good with her seven prior wins all coming on tracks rated Dead or worse.

“I’ll probably freshen her up and have a go at the Tauranga Stakes (1600m),” Latta said. “It’s another weight-for-age race and that suits her now because she’s so high up in the ratings.

“It depends as well on the tracks and they got a decent shower at Ellerslie and that would have helped her.”

The six-year-old mare had previously won at Group 3 level last season and was Group 1 placed in the NZ Oaks as a three-year-old. Zennista has also won at Listed level in Australia in last season’s Caloundra Cup.

A $20,000 bargain purchase, Zennista has picked up her eight wins from 37 starts along with 12 minor placings and has earned $547,281 for her owners N M Cantwell, P S Dudding, D H Robinson, W A Flipp, L L Pratt, R A Pratt & L L Reilly.

Bred by J N Berger, Zennista is from the only crop of Japanese stallion Zenno Rob Roy who shuttled to New Zealand for just one season. She is out of a winning Maroof mare Zarnitsa, a half-sister to triple stakes winner Chartreuse (St. Petersberg).

Zennista was purchased by Lisa Latta Racing Stables at the 2009 Festival Sale for $20,000 from Oxford Thoroughbreds.