Racing: NZ filly faces star-studded field at Hollywood

Matamata filly Puttanesca will face 13 rivals in the US$700,000 ($1.13 million) American Oaks on Monday morning, including raiders from the stables of top European trainers Dermot Weld and Henry Cecil.

The Wayne Hillis-trained filly, to be ridden by top Australian jockey Glen Boss, arrived in Los Angeles early this week and was rated a $16 chance by local bookmakers for the 2000m feature on Hollywood Park's grass track.

It is Hillis' second crack at the race after he saddled Boulevardofdreams to a seventh placing in 2004, after she ran third in the AJC Oaks.

"Puttanesca is more athletic and has a good turn of foot to suit the short straight. Boulevardofdreams was more of a mile-and-a-half horse," Hillis told the Hollywood Park website.

Hillis is hoping to better the efforts of the last Australasian raider, the David Hayes-trained Anamato, who finished third in the American Oaks two years ago.

Puttanesca won the group two Royal Stakes at Ellerslie and was freshened after finishing seventh in the NZ Oaks in March. She finished second in both her leadup runs in recent weeks, over 1400m and 1600m in restricted company at Ruakaka.

It will be her final start for Hillis, with the filly's Hong Kong owner Y K Wong planning to transfer her to an American trainer to continue her racing career there.

The Oaks drew a strong field, including the New York filly Gozzip Girl ($4.50 favourite), Cecil's filly Apple Charlotte ($5) and Weld's filly Rare Ransom ($13).

Gozzip Girl is bidding for her fourth consecutive win on turf, and will be ridden by top American jockey Kent Desormeaux.

England filly Apple Charlotte was considered the best of the international raiders with three wins from four starts.

Irish trainer Weld, who won the 2003 American Oaks with Dimatrova, was confident about Rare Ransom who finished fourth in the recent Irish 1000 Guineas. "I've been very lucky at Hollywood Park, and hope that continues. She's an adaptable filly and she shipped well. I think the best is yet to come with her."

- AAP