Spectacular gavelhouse.com 1000 Guineas Win for La Diosa (NZ)

A home-town heroine stole the show in the $300,000 Group 1 gavelhouse.com New Zealand 1000 Guineas (1600m) at Riccarton on Saturday as local filly La Diosa (NZ) (So You Think) came from last to score a superb win.

The classic was run under a new name this year, named after New Zealand Bloodstock’s Australasian online auction platform gavelhouse.com. In addition to its own considerable prestige, it was a vital component of the New Zealand Bloodstock Filly of the Year Series. The second leg of the Series, it carried 12 points for the winner, 7 points for second and 3.5 points for third.

La Diosa was the clear favourite of the Guineas, courtesy of Listed wins in the Canterbury Belle Stakes (1200m) and Barneswood Farm Stakes (1400m) in her last two starts. The Barneswood Farm placegetters, Savile Row (NZ) (Makfi) and Heroic Valour (Fastnet Rock), boosted that form by running second and third in last week’s Group 1 New Zealand 2000 Guineas (1600m).

After turning for home in 11th place in the 11-horse field, La Diosa produced a devastating sprint down the home straight to soar to the lead and win by an emphatic length and a half. Karaka graduates Bella Gioia (NZ) (Swiss Ace) and Sweepstake (NZ) (Per Incanto) filled the minor placings.

It was the first Group 1 win for trainers Mandy and Matt Brown and apprentice jockey Racha Cuneen.

“She's an amazing filly and I'm very grateful to be given the opportunity by Mandy and Matt Brown and the connections,” Cuneen said.

“The plan was always to get back and run over the top of them. We hit the front early and she got a bit lost, but all credit to the filly – she's a great horse.”

La Diosa has now had five starts for three wins and one minor placing.

She became the first Group 1 winner for So You Think (NZ) (High Chaparral), the globe-trotting superstar racehorse and exciting young sire who has two juveniles catalogued for next week’s Ready to Run Sale.

La Diosa’s dam is Star Affair (NZ) (Star Way), who won four races including the Group 2 Travis Stakes. She is the dam of eight winners from nine foals to race, three at stakes level – La Diosa, Group 3 winner Solid Billing (Rock Of Gibraltar) and Listed winner Thy (NZ) (O’Reilly).

Star Affair is a half-sister to The Jewel (NZ) (O’Reilly), who won the 1000 Guineas in 2002.

La Diosa now leads the 2016-17 Filly of the Year Series with 12 points, with Bella Gioia second with 7 points. Gold Trail Stakes winner Honey Rider (NZ) (Pins) is third with 6 points, with Sweepstake fourth on 3.5 points. Glass Slipper (NZ) (Pins) is next with 3 points, ahead of Mystery Show (NZ) (Sakhee’s Secret) on 1.5.