KEY POINTS:
Don't dismiss the chances of Veloce Bella in the $300,000 New Zealand Oaks today just because she was unplaced in the New Zealand Derby two weeks ago, warns jockey Jim Collett.
The Waikato horseman is the first to agree Veloce Bella faces a tall order in the group one race for 3-year-old fillies at Trentham.
But he said Veloce Bella's effort for seventh in the Derby at Ellerslie on March 3 was better than it appeared on paper and the horse had the constitution to cope with another 2400m assignment in the space of two weeks.
"She's tough, very tough. She is the sort of filly that can handle it," Collett said. "I know it's a big ask to go from a Derby to an Oaks but she appears to be okay."
Collett rode Veloce Bella in training this week and said from all accounts she had come through the Derby in good order.
"She's apparently done very well since then. I rode her at the track on Tuesday morning and she felt bright enough, felt like normal."
Veloce Bella was beaten by only about 2 1/2 lengths by the winner Redoute's Dancer in the Derby. Collett said it was a creditable effort considering some early interference.
"I got screwed around sideways in the first 200m of the race. That upset her. That got her over-racing and she has never really over-raced before. For her, it was keener than she has ever raced."
Collett said Veloce Bella was again hampered with about 800m to run.
"At the half-mile she was tightened between runners and lost another length or so. Overall her run was very good."
Collett said the Oaks field could not be considered as strong as the Derby and she had to be a strong chance.
"She's coming out of a strong Derby field to probably a slightly weaker Oaks field. Given a nice run, I think she can be in it."
The Oaks is the last in the 10-race New Zealand Filly of the Year series and provides a chance for Veloce Bella to pip Princess Coup for overall honours.
Princess Coup leads the series with 27 points and Veloce Bella is second with 19.
To win the series Veloce Bella must win tomorrow and Princess Coup finish third or worse.
Veloce Bella was yesterday a $5 second favourite for the Oaks on the New Zealand TAB's fixed-odds market. Princess Coup remained a $3.60 favourite.
Veloce Bella has been one of the star performers of the season with five wins from eights starts.
Four of the wins were in succession and they included group two $100,000 Avondale Guineas (1600m) for 3-year-olds on December 9 and the group two $120,000 Eight Carat Stakes (1600m) for 3-year-old fillies at Ellerslie on December 26.
In the latter event Princess Coup was the runner-up but she turned the tables on Veloce Bella to beat her when taking out the group three $75,000 Desert Gold Stakes (1600m) at Trentham on January 27.
The pair again filled the first two placings in the group two $100,000 Sir Tristram Fillies Classic (2000m) at Te Rapa on February 10 with Veloce Bella coming out on top. That makes for a 2-1 win advantage for Veloce Bella over Princess Coup.
- NZPA
* Latest betting.-
New Zealand Oaks, $300,000, 3yo fillies, group one, 2400m (run at Trentham today): $3.60 Princess Coup; $5 Veloce Bella; $7.50 Fuar; $8 Post Thyme; $9 Shira; $14 Zygadene; $16 Castlebar; $18 Keep The Passion; $21 Bonaichi; $26 Zeta Black, Overkaast; $35 Shesakeeper; $51 Black Mamba, Dancing Forever, Fuji Walk; $61 Carlsberg Shandy, Attraction; $81 Madredeus; $101 Istaone.
