KEY POINTS:
It was a toss-up yesterday over what was the best angle around Veloce Bella's awesome win in the Cambridge Stud Eight Carat Classic.
On one hand her brilliant rails burst for Jim Collett tightened her grip on the Royal Stakes on the same course on January 1, and with it early dibs on the Filly of the Year crown.
But back in the birdcage her camp were still pinching themselves over the fairytale ride they were all still on as they toasted the group two prize.
With stable staying star Valley Chief also expected to be among the favourites for the City of Auckland Cup on New Year's Day, Matamata trainer Mark Brosnan is riding a career-best season.
Yet he admitted yesterday he wouldn't have even set eyes on the freakish Volksraad filly if it wasn't for eagle-eyed wife Yolande.
"My wife saw that she [Veloce Bella] had been passed in at the sales for $12,000 and they'd wanted $15,000 for her," said Brosnan.
"So she rang the owner up to ask if we could lease her, but they rang back later to say they were going to race her themselves."
Rookie breeder and co-owner Margaret Hardy confessed yesterday that she didn't know what the terms of leasing entailed.
But she was only too glad to give Brosnan the training role in return for his interest in racing the filly himself.
All she had to do now was convince her friends, none of whom knew anything about racing, to chip in as owners.
"I still know nothing about horses and racing," said first-time Hamilton recruit Tony Schramm.
"We're just a group of friends having a lot of fun, but I have to say the first year wasn't much fun because there was a lot of money going out and none coming in."
Now Schramm says the agents for rich overseas owners can call all they like for their Fast, Beautiful Girl - the English translation for their filly's Italian moniker.
'We're not selling, why would we? We're all having too much fun," said Schramm.
While three of her four career wins have come on rain-affected footing, rider Jim Collett said the filly's best performances are still ahead now she's struck ground to suit.
"It was just her class that had her winning on wet tracks," said Collett.
"I told Jim Gibbs this morning that she'd sprint better on top of the track. And to be honest, she's just learning to race. She used to drop out the back."
Collett has no doubt Veloce Bella will cope with the step up to 2000m in the Royal Stakes, maybe even with 2400m against her own age.
* Trainer Richard Collett had a good reason for leaving impressive Dunstan Feeds Qualifier winner Kingsinga out of Dunstan Final contention on New Year's Day.
As a winner of three races at the time of nomination, the horse is ineligible for the $60,000 feature.
But Collett wasn't too fussed, even after the gelding had dented a few reputations at Ellerslie yesterday.
The Danasinga four-year-old has even bigger fish to fry - the $70,000 listed Marton Cup at Awapuni on January 13.
"That race wouldn't be beyond him at all," said Collett. "He'll improve on that run."
