Promising filly Connello (NZ) (Time Test) backed up a strong showing in stakes company at her most recent start with a comfortable win over 1200m at Hawera on Saturday.
The daughter of Little Avondale Stud stallion Time Test had finished fifth first-up in the Listed Canterbury Belle Stakes (1400m) at Riccarton last month, with trainer Lisa Latta using the trip south as a test for a potential return to Christchurch next month for the Gr.1 Barnswood Farm New Zealand 1000 Guineas (1600m).
Latta was pleased with how her charge measured up that day and expected a good performance second up and Connello didn’t disappoint as she disputed the pace throughout under rider Chris Dell before holding out a strong challenge in the run home from the well-fancied Wire Rope.
Latta was pleased with the improvement her charge had made since her season opener and had been confident of a forward showing.
“We took her south for her first up run where she went a really gallant race and just peaked a bit on her run,” Latta said.
“We’ve given her time to get over that and it will make her in the long run as she really looked good today.
“We’ve got the option to go back there (for the 1000 Guineas) but mainly we will be looking to get black type with her and she may head to Wellington for a three-year-old 1400m after this.
“We will keep her up here for the meantime and then take her down south.
“She is such an easy filly to do anything with and she has a lot of improvement in her”.
Part-owned and bred by David Woodhouse, who raced multiple Group One winner Belclare from the Latta stable, Connello is a daughter of Towkay mare Baillieborough and traces back to brilliant two-year-old filly Beaufort Lass who won four times at stakes level while she also finished fourth in the Gr.1 New Zealand 1000 Guineas (1600m).