Less than 24 hours after watching her former star Belclare collect the A$2 million Gr.2 The Invitational (1400m) across the Tasman, Lisa Latta unveiled another Group One hopeful in the same colours at Trentham with Connello storming home to take out the Happy Hire 1400.
Latta prepared Belclare to win two editions of the Gr.1 New Zealand Thoroughbred Breeders’ Stakes (1600m) among a number of other feature successes, and now in the care of expat-Kiwi Bjorn Baker, the quality mare displayed her class in an all-the-way-win on the big stage at Royal Randwick.
Belclare was bred and raced by Deb and David Woodhouse, and their familiar black-and-white silks were back on top closer to home on Sunday with the Time Test filly, who was coming off a last-start victory earlier this month at Egmont.
Connello defeated Wire Rope on that occasion, but the latter started favourite in Sunday’s race at $2.80 ahead of the filly, who closed at $4.70. In the hands of Tina Comignaghi, Connello jumped away positively and settled into the one-one behind Anushka Shesastar, who sat outside of Wire Rope at a leisurely tempo.
Coming off the turn, several of the three-year-olds struggled to kick in the heavy conditions, but Connello was in her element and stormed to the lead at the 200m, continuing to extend the margin to the post over a game Skipper’s Canyon and Wingman.
Connello holds a nomination for the Gr.1 Barneswood Farm New Zealand 1000 Guineas (1600m) at Riccarton Park, a race Latta has firmly on her agenda in three weeks’ time.
“She’s just a really genuine filly that does everything right,” Latta said.
“I think she’ll step-up to the mile and we look forward to heading south for the Guineas.”
Latta shared a similar sense of pride after Belclare’s victory, particularly for her Wairarapa-based connections.
“I was so proud watching her win a Group race over there and it’s great for the owners, Deb and David Woodhouse,” she said.
“They really deserve it, and then to top it off with Connello was great.”
Bred by David Woodhouse alongside HGT Bloodstock, Connello has won three of her 10 starts and over $80,000 in stakes for the former and Bill Rutherford. She is the eighth foal out of Woodhouse’s homebred Towkay mare Ballieborough.
Connello’s success was one of three by the Latta stable with Popsagoosey and Deadly Pony saluting throughout the card, alongside a game Diss Is Dramatic finishing second in the Gr.3 Gee and Hickton Thompson Handicap (1600m).