Rasa Lila
Trish Dunell
Rasa Lila is presented with a golden opportunity this weekend to add a black type victory to her record.
The mare has gone close on several occasions and Saturday's Gr.3 Wentwood Grange Cuddle Stakes at Trentham offers the Steven Ramsay and Julia Ritchie-trained five-year-old with a top chance to break through.
"She does look well-placed as she hasn't been missed by the handicapper this season," said Garry Cossey, racing manager for owner Sir Peter Vela.
"She was four and a half kilos above the minimum in the Rich Hill Mile so at set weights and penalties against the fillies and mares she will get her chance this time."
Rasa Lila was a fast-finishing fifth in the Group Two Ellerslie event and she had previously run second in the Gr.3 Eagle Technology Stakes and third in the Gr.2 Cal Isuzu Stakes.
She hasn't raced since her fifth placing in the Gr.3 Trentham Stakes and her work leading up to a Wellington return has been very good.
She will be accompanied south by Silver Eclipse, who will contest the Listed Dixon & Dunlop Melbourne Racing Club Lightning Handicap.
"She goes well down the dog leg at Trentham and as long as the track is okay she will be right in it," Cossey said.
A past winner at Trentham, she was doing her best work late when seventh after getting back from a wide barrier in the Gr.3 Darley Plate.
Meanwhile, the stable will also have two strong chances at Te Aroha on Thursday with Sopraffina and Quintessentially in their respective NZB Insurance Pearl Series Races.
"Sopraffina's had two nice trials leading into this and she won over 1560 metres at Rotorua first-up last season while Quintessentially has trialled well and she's quite a smart filly," Cossey said. - NZ Racing Desk.
The mare has gone close on several occasions and Saturday's Gr.3 Wentwood Grange Cuddle Stakes at Trentham offers the Steven Ramsay and Julia Ritchie-trained five-year-old with a top chance to break through.
"She does look well-placed as she hasn't been missed by the handicapper this season," said Garry Cossey, racing manager for owner Sir Peter Vela.
"She was four and a half kilos above the minimum in the Rich Hill Mile so at set weights and penalties against the fillies and mares she will get her chance this time."
Rasa Lila was a fast-finishing fifth in the Group Two Ellerslie event and she had previously run second in the Gr.3 Eagle Technology Stakes and third in the Gr.2 Cal Isuzu Stakes.
She hasn't raced since her fifth placing in the Gr.3 Trentham Stakes and her work leading up to a Wellington return has been very good.
She will be accompanied south by Silver Eclipse, who will contest the Listed Dixon & Dunlop Melbourne Racing Club Lightning Handicap.
"She goes well down the dog leg at Trentham and as long as the track is okay she will be right in it," Cossey said.
A past winner at Trentham, she was doing her best work late when seventh after getting back from a wide barrier in the Gr.3 Darley Plate.
Meanwhile, the stable will also have two strong chances at Te Aroha on Thursday with Sopraffina and Quintessentially in their respective NZB Insurance Pearl Series Races.
"Sopraffina's had two nice trials leading into this and she won over 1560 metres at Rotorua first-up last season while Quintessentially has trialled well and she's quite a smart filly," Cossey said. - NZ Racing Desk.
