Zennista Scores Consecutive Stakes Victory

The big powerful mare Zennista (NZ) claimed her second stakes race in succession on Saturday when racing away with the $50,000 Listed WFA AG Challenge Stakes (1600m) at Wanganui.

Settling towards the back of the field for jockey Darryl Bradley, Zennista (Zenno Rob Roy x Zarnitsa) made her race winning move at the 600 metre mark and was contesting the lead at the point of the turn.

The Group 3 Gold Trail Stakes winner Rememba Howe (Handsome Ransom) put up a good fight in the straight but the four-year-old daughter of Zenno Rob Roy was too good over the concluding stages, racing away to a half-length victory.

Zennista's win was her second at stakes level, her first coming at her last start at Awapuni where she blitzed the field in the Listed Rangitikei Gold Cup (1600m).

Running second in the Group 1 New Zealand Oaks last season to Midnight Oil (Keeper), Zennista is racing in career best form having won or placed in her last five starts including a second to Oak Park (More Than Ready) in the Listed Rotorua Stakes (1400m).

Her trainer Lisa Latta is having a highly successful season with her 65 wins putting her in the top five trainers in the country and she has made over $1.4 million in stakes earnings.

Latta has outlined plans for Zennista which will see her contest the Opunake Cup before heading south to Riccarton to contest the Winter Cup.

Bred by John Berger, Zennista was purchased by Lisa Latta Racing Stables for $20,000 from Oxford Thoroughbreds at New Zealand Bloodstock's 2009 Festival Sale. Earlier this year Zennista's half-brother by Thano (Southern Halo) was purchased as a yearling from the Karaka Select Sale by Shane Crawford's Regal Farm Partnership for $42,500.

Raced by N Cantwell, P Dudding, D Robinson, W Flipp, L Pratt, R Pratt & L Reilly, Zennista has now won over $200,000 in stakes.